Start networking
“It’s who you know” is still very much a truism when it comes to getting your perfect position. Most people get their jobs by networking. And while it’s not as tough for men to be bold in this arena (thanks to old-boy networks) women have a harder time. Often women will say: “I hate this. It’s horrible asking people for things,” says J. Janelle Shubert, PhD, director of the Center for Women’s Leadership at Babson College, a private business school in Wellesley, MA. But if you substitute the idea of “relationships” for “networks,” it gets easier.
Start networking where you’re most comfortable: your child’s playgroup, your neighborhood, your college alumni office. Don’t narrow your networking to work environments only. You might be surprised to learn that a mom at your child’s school is also the CEO at your town’s largest employer! Once you begin your job search, let everyone know.
The golden rule of networking is to give more than you get. So how can you help those you want to network with? Start networking before you need something. Think two
steps ahead to build goodwill and credibility. This works in short-term situations, too. “Don’t enter a room trying to collect twenty business cards in twenty minutes,” says
Roberta Chinsky Matuson, president of Northampton, MA–based Human Resource Solutions (yourhrexperts.com) and the former HR careers expert for Monster.com. “Instead, try to meet one or two people and keep the focus on them. Eventually the conversation will turn to you, and you’ll have the chance to share your story.”
Attend industry events. You can print up business cards (free at vistaprint.com) and hand them out to people you meet. Also, check out sites like facebook.com, linkedin.com, and other social online networking tools to discover old friends, classmates, and colleagues. The Internet isn’t a quick fix for the networking challenged, but it’s a great tool to help you make connections.
Ace the interview
The best way to breeze through an interview is to be prepared. Use the Internet to research the company, take notes to use as reminders, then memorize them and rehearse. “Brag” about your accomplishments without coming off as pompous by providing real-life examples of your achievements. There’s a huge difference between “I’m great at project management” and “Here’s an example of a project that I managed successfully.” Go in prepared with clever responses to common interview questions. When asked, “What is your five-year plan?” link your answer to the job you’re interviewing for, says Katy Piotrowski, author of The Career Coward’s Guide to Interviewing. Say something like “Because your position is a great fit for where I’m heading in my career, my first goal is to excel in this job.” Likewise, when asked to list your strengths, align your answer with the requirements of the position. For example, you can say, “I excel under deadline pressure. Here’s an example of when that proved particularly useful.” Then provide an anecdote that makes you look like Superwoman.
