If you read this blog or my Manage Your Job Search book, you know I’m a big fan of networking with loose connections. Those referrals are more likely to land you a job or help you find a candidate than asking the same people you already know. That’s why recruiters are so successful. They keep […]
If you’re looking for a job, and you have more than two years of experience, you can consider using a recruiter. Some recruiters have entry-level jobs, but that’s rare in this economy. The more experience you have, the more senior you are, and the more specialized your experience is, the more you need a recruiter.
I’ve met a few people recently who wanted positions as agile project managers or Scrum Masters. I asked them if they belonged to any Agile LinkedIn groups. No, they didn’t know those groups existed. It’s easy to not know. And, if you’re looking for a job, it has to be your business to know. Part
I’ve been writing the networking part of the Agile Job Search book, and realized you could use some of the advice before the book is ready. I receive lots of requests to link with people on LinkedIn. Some people I’ve met at conferences or workshops. Some people I know. Some people I share common groups
You might think that your only alumni network is from your school. But you have corporate alumni networks too. I bet you’ve worked for some great companies, or some large companies, or for some great managers, or with some great people. Those corporate alumni networks are just as valuable as your university alumni network. So,
I’ve been on vacation and traveling, which is why I’ve been quiet on this blog for way too long. Sorry about that. And, I’ve been deleting numerous emails with the subject, “Are you taking on new clients?” which is a referral-for-pay scheme. I don’t participate in those. If I can’t refer people because I believe
I’ve been reading Pfeffer’s Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don’t and enjoying it a lot. I’ve had a few aha moments, and one has to do with networking for a new job. Here’s a quote: Consequently, an optimal networking strategy is to know a lot of different people from different circles, have
People often use my network to ask me for back-door references about people I know. Sometimes, I can help. Sometimes, I can’t. If I don’t know someone well enough to provide a reference, I don’t. For example, if I consulted at a client for a few days, I don’t know anyone well enough, other than
If you are hiring people now, you know that there are plenty of great candidates. How do you discover the best of them? Often, great candidates come to your attention because of their networking. That means if you want to be a great hiring manager, you need to pay attention to and cultivate your network.
A number of my friends of long standing and colleagues are looking for jobs. (Friends of long standing is another way to say old friends without calling them old 🙂 They all have over 20 years of experience. The way they used to find jobs–through recruiters–is not working. Sure, recruiters have some openings, but most