Getting
started
One of the most important things you can do for yourself, your
job search and your family is to get up each day shower and dress and "go
to work." If you can, find a place
outside of your home as your base of operation. The EDD has just such places available with phones, FAX machines
and computers available to you. This
builds your confidence, gives you a sense of purpose and will help your family
cope, knowing you are out there looking.
Set a tentative schedule for
completion of each step of your plan and keep it as best you can.
1. Generate a list of your job objectives.
ˇ
What do I want to do
ˇ
At what level
ˇ
Where (geographical
location)
ˇ
Have at least a
couple of alternatives
2. Generate an initial network list.
ˇ
Friends
ˇ
Business/work
acquaintances
ˇ
Relatives
3. Set up a schedule for contacting the network persons.
ˇ
At least ten calls
each day
4. Begin contacting persons on your network list,
ˇ
keep a journal of
results, and
ˇ
follow-up on leads.
ˇ
Don't ask for a job,
tell them what you are looking for and ask for referrals.
5. Build new network lists resulting from initial networking
contacts.
ˇ
Rank each contact as strong, average, weak.
ˇ
Make a new
prioritized list.
6. Begin follow-up contact with those persons ranked as strong.
ˇ
Fill in time gaps
with average contacts so that you do
not have blocks of unproductive time.
7. Generate list of companies and contacts within, that your
network contacts have provided.
8. Research those companies.
ˇ
Libraries have
resources, business journals, computer databases, internet access, etc.
9. Network with the contacts within the companies to find the
hiring manager and generate a list of these.
ˇ
Never let your résumé precede you.
Keep several with you and present it when asked.
10. Contact the hiring manager to arrange personal interviews.
ˇ
Again, don't ask for a
job, tell them what you are looking for and ask what his/her company is looking
for in a prime employee (education, experience, etc.)
ˇ
Then let them know what you have to offer.
ˇ
If they don't have an
opening, ask for referrals.
See
us on the web at: Employment Assistance Network www.ean-ucg.org
If you have
questions on networking, please contact me.
Knute Josifek
: kjosifek@mindspring.com