Try this site for networking events with a more intimate feel.
September is the beginning of the business networking season in Seattle. There are many calendars and resources to alert you to those which may be of interest for advancing your job search.
Experience tells me that when you engage in activities of interest, you bond with folks. Bonding is what networking is all about; not contact information acquisition.
Therefore, it just makes sense to attend events that speak to your interests and passions. You never know when you will meet a kindred spirit who just happens to also know of job opportunities.
Here’s a site I discovered with local special interest business networking events. [You may have to declare Seattle to get where you want to go because the site lists events for several major cities. Mine is set for Seattle but that's no guarantee the link is true.] I like the up close and personal nature of the events and believe the venues are small enough to encourage real connections. Include a few in your mix of more formal networking events and above all, have fun.
Do you find networking hard to do?
Networking Debugged is written from the point of view that networking is not easy for most people. Find scripts, examples and field tested advice in this step by step guide to networking. And if you want even more support,
contact me for coaching services specific to your networking needs. We can create a special program to help you overcome your barriers and get the leads and introductions you want.
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So much thunder and lightening and yet, no rain.
The media are abuzz with new purveyors of social networking schemes guaranteed to grow your business or land you a job.
Anecdotal examples are shared and much is made of the possibilities for using twitter to find jobs and facebook to sell products. But where are the statistics?
I am gunshy. I see a lot of community spirit engendered with updates on movies, books and children; but precious little business related programs that can’t be accomplished better in other ways.
Fact is, a few people with whom I am friends on facebook bombard my wall with announcements and plugs. I hide them. I am not interested in their promotions. I am curious to see what my peeps are up to and occasionally click on a link they are chatting up, but in no instance do I or anyone I know ever look to facebook or twitter as a resource, commercial or business.
So if we can hide friends who promote and have no time or interest to read all those tweets, how on earth can we say social media is good for business or job search?
This is an honest question so if you have hard data or experience that contradicts my point of view, please, comment. But don’t tell me about the myriad twitter tools because executives and technology leaders have better ways to spend their time…such as creating Boolean strings for search engines.
I’m listening…
I left my heart in San Francisco long before I met Seattle. The two cities, similar in important ways, own my respect and love. I am now convinced, living in San Francisco, when I did, influenced the path of my career and my expectations for where I would live. The Silicon Valley was just becoming a tech juggernaut and Seattle was its second cousin kept in the shadows.
My early career in high tech was part of the growth of such former luminaries as Xerox, HP, Tektronix and Apollo.
But it is the cities in which I lived while working on their behalf that stay with me. Read More.
Take a serious look at what motivates you in your job search. Are you determined to get that title or do you want a job where you can be successful?
Read one of my more contrarian posts: Don’t let passion be your guide and forget about following your bliss. The color of your parachute is less important than your opportunity for success.
Read more:
There is more than enough advice about how to be a good executive and lots of critique on bad ones. But there is scarce little advice on how to transition from manager to executive. It’s a big leap and not necessarily a natural one. Most career advice focuses on how to do the job, not how to get the promotion.
To learn more…
Career advice, Job Search Tools, Six Figure Jobs, coaching
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$100, 000, Career advice, executive, EXECUTIVES, manager, promotions, Six Figure Jobs
Visitors to my blog will find subscribing to my examiner.com column useful. The latest series on ageism (agism) has five installments to date and more are coming. Your comments are encouraged.
For a podcast on tips to avoid the problems listen to Total Picture Radio.
In general, the Examiner.com column discusses similar (but not the same content) topics to this blog, and also has Seattle relevant information. Meetings, events and topics of local interest are included among in-depth advice on job search for executives and technology leaders.
Please contact me about topics you would like to see me cover in either site. Use the comments section here or find my email under my bio at the examiner site. My goal is to provide you with advice you need and links you can use. Help me do that by telling me what you want to know about.
For complete overview and revitalization of your job search, read, “Job Search Debugged.”
Thanks.
Rita Ashley, Job Search Coach
A stealth job search is always a risk. Just as soon as you take one interview, you run the risk of discovery regardless of your undercover social networking efforts. No matter how they promise secrecy, folks use the informal network to learn about you. And anyone who sees you enter the building or offices may know you and spread the news. Gossip is a wonderful thing.
Prepare for the worst. Protect yourself financially and know what to say when you are discovered. Then proceed with caution.
In my book, “Job Search Debugged” I discuss the stealth job search at length and mention a case where the candidate took a meeting 22 miles from his office and ran into the CEO’s admin. Discovery is likely regardless of your efforts.
The concept of the ‘passive’ candidate includes being found and courted. The comments above about how to assert your expertise, your brand, are useful but without active participation on the part of the applicant, landing a job that way is a slow road, at best. Establishing your brand for your career is a long term project and if you have been conscientious about that, you are already known. Branding is not just for job search.
Sometimes, honesty is the best policy. Remember, the folks you currently work for will ultimately become your references on the job after this one. Work to preserve them with integrity.
It’s that time of year again. Seattle is getting wound up and ready to meet. Topics range from social networking, the hottest thing since the Edsel to the tried and true start up entrepenuerial issues. For more information subscribe for constant updates on what is going on, where.
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