Just as you shouldn’t become overly-reliant on electronic job boards to conduct your search, neither should you lean too heavily on electronic contact as the primary means of connecting with your network.

Email is a great tool, but personal contact via telephone - or better yet, face to face - can’t be beat. You’ll get more mileage out of a conversation than you ever will from electronic correspondence.

Obviously some in your network may be located in other cities, therefore precluding face to face meetings, but make it a goal to try to meet with contacts who are in your area regularly. Shoot for at least one meeting every week - though more than that is better. Can you make it two or three?

Never forget the golden rule of networking…make sure the relationship is mutually beneficial. What can you do for the other person? Always ask. Keep people on your contact list in mind; when you come across an article that might be of interest, or a piece of information that you think they’ll find useful, pass it along.

Respect the other person’s time. If it’s someone with whom you’re only slightly acquainted or whom you’re meeting for the first time, be especially mindful about making efficient conversation. Have an agenda and be prepared to keep it succinct, but follow their lead.

Here’s what I mean: a candidate recently told me about a networking meeting that turned into a robust conversation lasting a few hours. He went into it expecting that it would be 30 minutes over a cup of coffee at best, but it evolved into much more than that. This new contact was clearly interested in an in-depth discussion, and enthusiastically agreed to a follow up meeting.

Your personal network is likely to be the source of your next job. Make it a priority to devote time and attention to people whom you’re currently connected with - and continue to work diligently to expand those contacts.

Next in the series: When it Comes to Interviews…Make Yourself Available

I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions, but how about some job search and general career management suggestions that can give you a professional advantage? Since it’s “that time of year,” let’s get into the spirit and consider a few of them in this series.

Job Search Resolution #1

If you want to give yourself an advantage over other job seekers, resolve to do a little more homework. Get the name of the hiring manager - it’s a critical piece of information.

Let’s say you’ve uncovered a lead regarding a Sales Director position in which you’re interested. Good start, but you need to know more. Who does that position report to? Find out - both the person’s name and his job title. Once you know that it’s James Matthews and he’s the VP of Sales, Midwest Region, you’re steps ahead.

Does someone in your network know James? If not, then maybe someone you know knows someone else who knows James. You’ve got a much better chance of scoring an interview if someone can drop your name…and vice versa.

When submitting your resume and cover letter, you’ll give yourself a little boost if you send the materials specifically to James rather than generically to someone in Human Resources. Granted, HR will most likely be involved in the process. However, contacting James directly can be advantageous in terms of getting your foot in the door. If you’ve uncovered a mutual contact, mention that person’s name in the first paragraph of your cover letter.

Here’s an alternate scenario: maybe there isn’t an opening right now. But the fact that you’re now dialed in means you may be able to find out in advance when a position will be available. Keep in touch periodically with your contact person who knows James so you can keep your finger on that company’s pulse.

Most of the rest of your competition will be waiting to see a position with that company posted in the want ads…and of course, that may never happen because the vast majority of jobs are never posted. You, on the other hand, will know about the opportunity because you did your homework.

Next in the series:

Resolution #2 - Get beyond electronic networking

Choosing a career can be difficult, after all, you can’t really know what a job will involve until you’ve actually done it. But if you need to spend years training before you can try the career, choosing one in the first place could be a problem.

So, how can you answer the question “What career is right for me?” before you embark on a long and possibly expensive training or degree course?

Career decisions are often made quickly, often without enough background information, simply because schools and colleges don’t focus on providing advice on a wide range of careers, and young people don’t know how to access this information themselves.

This pattern is often repeated later in life, when someone decides to change career. Decisions are often made due to factors such as salary, perks and the possibility of job security or promotion. Although these are all good points and need to be considered when making a career choice, they should not be the main considerations.

Job satisfaction is one of the most important aspects of anyone’s career. After all, you spend a lot of time at work: up to 40 hours a week, in some cases more, for around 40 years of your life.

However, job satisfaction means different things to different people and so one of the first steps in deciding which career is right for you, is to decide exactly what job satisfaction means to you.

What do you want most from your career? Do you want to work with people or with computers or with words or figures - or a combination of these? Or perhaps something totally different. Are you passionate about animals or self sufficiency?

What activities or feelings are essential for you to feel fulfilled at work? Would you like to use specific skills, such as languages or teamwork or writing? Do you feel good when you are helping people, learning new skills or teaching other people how to do something?

Once you’ve made a list of the most important skills and activities should be part of your job profile, you can then look for careers which fit. In some cases, the choices will be obvious, but many skills can be used in a vast range of different jobs and so you might be surprised at the range of possibilities open to you.

The first mistake that many people make when searching for a job, is not understanding this fundamental fact. Opportunity is created by you; it generally does not come to you. You are the one who will make or break your career in any field at any point in your life.

This means a fundamental realization that you are responsible for your actions and their outcomes. You have to make it work, and then it will inevitably work for you.

1. The first thing you need to avoid is this notion of looking for a job, what you want to do is create opportunities. When in this mindset you will put yourself way ahead of the rest.

This will be reflected in your actions and being an individual who creates opportunity, you will build value. These, my friends, are the type of people that companies want to employ. These are the type of people that others want to be associated with.

2. You should avoid talking about you and instead talk about getting results. This is not a personality contest. Your objective is simple, “Get results”. Everything else is just a waste of your time and everybody else’s. Everything else is a distraction, if what you are doing is not yielding results, then drop it.

When in an interview, talk results and show how those results can be achieved.

3. Avoid those who say you can’t. You know a lot of people are afraid to dream, it’s actually not the dreaming they are afraid of, it’s more about what others will say regarding their dreams. Do not be afraid to dream big.

Do not be afraid to go after what you love, because if love is the motivating factor, then you have nothing to fear. By the way this is not some crazy ideal, ask anyone who hates their job how they feel?

To conclude, you will be the one who either goes out and lives life - or gets over taken by it. Create your opportunities, and then failure will only be that which got you closer to success.

All of us want to discover success, yet too often we move in paths that take us to
the wrong destination. You can find your dream job, IF….. and that’s the KEY
to your success…. knowing or fixing the IF in your life.

Let’s think about your goal. You do have one, right? If not, then your first step
must be to sit down and THINK. What’s my objective? You’ve got to KNOW what
and where it is that you are heading before success can be achieved.

Yes, it’s ugly. WORK without pay, full-time to boot! Every morning, you get up,
dress up, fix up, like you’re going to an executive job downtown. You are, but it’s
without pay for now. Your investment of energy, time, and research will pay huge
dividends in your future dream job, I promise, income potential, too.

Truth is… NO ONE likes to interview for a new position, at least I never did. Few
of us like to work without pay. OK, maybe some wierd dummie thinks it’s fun.

Let’s just say that educated folks, those with talent and skills to offer, do not find
searching for a new position their choice vocation. All of us like to be paid for the
benefit of investing our talent with an employer.

With that said, the time spent searching; researching; pounding the pavement
and sitting in front of an interviewer is not fun, but it’s going to be worth many
dollars in your future income and job satisfaction. One key to the job offer is in
how we present ourselves during the initial interview, plus the follow-up.

Remember, you are not alone. Hundreds of candidates may be interested in the
same position you seek, but don’t let that discourage your effort. It only means
you’ve got to work SMARTER than the rest. You’ve got to perfect the strategy to
exceed, out perform, excell against the odds.

Be sure that some tough questions are coming…. interviewers want to hear about
your experiences; your skills; they’ll want to know your intentions of staying with
their firm. You’ll hear questions like… “where do you expect to be in 5 years”? A
tough one, but you’ve got to be prepared with an answer.

What do you know about OUR firm? Have you done any research? Do you know
anything about our industry? Successes, challenges, failures? The interviewer, at
least the sharp ones, have good techniques to uncover vital information that will
help them in the process of learning about you.

Are you on a shotgun interview or is this your rifle shot? The difference is just
“looking” for any ‘ole’ job or seeking to uncover YOUR dream job. Be willing to
say thanks, but no thanks, if the job is not the right one for you.

Before stepping inside to interview any firm, make sure YOU know WHY this firm
will make a serious error in judgement if they fail to hire you for the position. You
are the main “show” performer when on the interviewing stage. Know your lines
well and practice, practice, practice BEFORE your live performance.

It’s imperative that you be in control of every interview. How can this happen?
As they say, “piece-a-cake” when you educate yourself about the status of every
employer in the industry; know their financial condition; reputation; history and
’street’ knowledge gleaned through prior interviews.

Have FUN while you’re working out your strategic ACTION plan. Write every step
down in detail. Save your ’select’ future employer until you’ve interviewed with
competitive industry employers. By now, you’ve got so much info. in your bullet
that one rifle shot will put you on top of the mind-ladder of your chosen employer.

An aggressive job-search is not centered solely around one method, such as online job boards, newspaper ads or networking.

Based on my experience as a resume writer, some job hunters mistakenly think that their job search can be conducted entirely from their home, sitting in front of the computer.

Instead, experts say that a successful strategy should employ multiple search methods for the best chances of securing interviews and, ultimately, offers. For example, a job seeker might use networking, online job boards, cold-calling, a staffing firm and professional associations as part of an overall strategy.

Utilizing all of these different methods could help with tapping into the so-called “hidden job market.” Statistics have shown for years that most job openings are not advertised. Employers seem to like candidates who were personally referred, too. A 2001 Forrester Research study found that 62% of hiring managers said that word-of-mouth referrals were the best source of new hires.

That means that networking continues to be one of the most valuable tools in any job-seeker’s toolbox.

As a job seeker, you should aim to find out about the job openings that will never be advertised, and to be one of the first candidates considered as soon as a company decides to hire someone - before they have even told anyone they’re hiring.

How do you go about this?

1. Start with your address book. Contact friends, family and all of your professional contacts, such as people you worked with at previous jobs, vendors or clients you worked with at previous jobs and people you’ve met through professional associations. Tell the people you know from church, service clubs and other organizations. Do not forget about other people you have relationships with, like your financial adviser and eye doctor.

Ask all your contacts if you can send your resume to them. Even if these people know you, they might not know all of your qualifications and be able to convey them to someone else effectively.

Ask your contacts if their companies might be hiring, and if they can get you an informational interview with their employer. See if they know anyone who is hiring, and if they will keep an eye out for opportunities for you.

2. Identify companies for whom you would like to work. Begin researching them. Find out as much information about them as possible. Identify the appropriate point of contact there (such as the manager of whatever department you would like to work in), and make contact. Put in a phone call. Give him or her a 30-second “elevator pitch” explaining your qualifications in a very direct way. Yes, toot your own horn!

Even if the company is not hiring, request a short informational interview so that you can find out more about them and they can find out more about you. Afterward, send that individual a thank-you note. Then, keep in touch with that individual.

3. Read newspapers and watch the local news on TV to identify leads. Pay particular attention to business newspapers that cover only business news. Most major markets have business papers, but you might have to hunt for this type of paper (they are not always sold on newsstands). Look for stories about companies that are moving to town, companies that are expanding, new business developments that are in the works and any other news that would suggest possible job opportunities. Columns with announcements about recent promotions and staffing changes are a gold mine. Whenever someone gets a new job, there is usually a job opening created by that person’s departure. As you identify leads through the media, determine if anyone in your network can help you get your foot in the door to the organization, and make contact either way.

4. Get involved with professional associations in your industry. Most professions have associations that provide professional development opportunities for members. Most major markets have local chapters of national associations, and these local chapters typically have regular events, such as monthly luncheons with speakers. These are great opportunities to learn more about your profession and keep up with the latest trends. Perhaps most importantly, these meetings provide the opportunity to meet peers in your profession and people who might be in a position to hire you. Additionally, some professional organizations offer job listings for members only. This might be on the organization’s Web site in a password-secured area or in its members-only newsletter. Often, employers might list jobs with a professional association but not list them with any major job boards. It is probably cheaper (or even free), and they can have a reasonable expectation that the candidates will be dedicated professionals who are successful in the industry.

Your contacts in a professional association will also be valuable should there be any job openings at their companies. You could speak to a contact about a job opening at his or her company to get information about the job that another candidate would not know. You also might be able to have your contact hand your resume to the hiring manager, which would get the manager’s attention and make you stand out from the dozens or hundreds of strangers sending resumes to HR.

I have enjoyed a wonderful 20+ year career as an Executive Coach and Career Transformation Coach. Eight years ago, I moved from corporate director roles to professional service and HR consulting companies. Specifically, I worked for one of the largest career transition companies. I felt it imperative that I not just focus on assisting my clients in successfully finding their next opportunity, but also help them uncover their passion and identify where they would like to be in their careers in 5 to 7 years.

Day after day of asking “What are your 5 - 7 year career goals” forced me to consider where I would like to be in my career in 5 years. So, I embarked on a journey to identify my career transformation strategy, implement it and evaluate my progress.

What are the steps to transforming your career?

First identify your education, background, roles, experiences, passion and competencies (skills). Then, purchase a spiral notebook or diary and begin to list your accomplishments. This list should include all of the accomplishments documented on your resume as well as those you add. Develop the habit of thinking about your accomplishments several times a day and recording them in your notebook or diary. At this point you don’t need to write them in a grammatically correct format, you just need to begin to build a comprehensive list.

The best way to write accomplishment statements is to use the PAR, CAR or STAR method: state the Problem, Circumstance, Situation or Task, identify the Action you took and state the quantifiable (or qualitative) Result(s).

After you have identified at least fifty to one hundred accomplishments, you can put them in categories and analyze your list based on type and your level of satisfaction with each type of accomplishment. This analysis will lead you to uncover a pattern of the activities that afford you the most satisfaction.

Next, articulate your value proposition(s). What is unique about you? Then write your career goals for 5 to 7 years out and the steps you will need to take in order to achieve those goals.

Understanding your accomplishments, value proposition, career goals and making sure you know the steps to achieve your goals will put you on the path to career transformation.

It is a statement of fact that the people who achieve most in their careers are the ones who actively manage their careers. If you still think that your organization or employer is going to look after your future, then you may have a big shock coming. Things are uncertain enough without leaving your career to chance.

So that you are in no doubt about what you can do, here are 6 ways to actively manage your career and they are not particularly difficult, they just need systematic application:

1. You need to know clearly where you’re going;

2. You need to start planning how you’ll get there;

3. You need to understand and make the most of your options;

4. You need to find out if anyone knows about you;

5. You need to learn what others think about you;

6. You need to be able to measure your impact.

When you apply these 6 ways to actively manage your career, everything starts to fall into place and your activities become focused on doing your job with a purpose. Your organization gains from your input and you gain more clarity and skilled understanding which leads to a sustainable career.

Some pointers to help you apply the active career management strategy:

1. Do you know where you’re going in terms of the short, medium and long term; do you know what skills or new knowledge will be required to progress in your job and your company?

2. Do you know how you’ll get there? Do you have the right education and experience; do you network with individuals who have the information and skills that you need to understand? Do you keep up to date and read journals, newspapers and books on management and business in general?

3. Are you making the most of your options by understanding where and why work opportunities are increasing or declining. Are you familiar with company policies and practices on career development?

4. Does anyone know about you? Do you get involved in cross-departmental activities or problem solving groups and develop contacts in areas that do not have regular dealings with you?

5. What do others think about you? Do you have good relationships with your superiors, people who work for you and customers?

6. Do you measure your impact by seeking feedback on your performance? Have you had recent experience of how others might see you (via your network or a test job application)?

Things are uncertain enough without leaving your career to chance. Use the 6 ways to actively manage your career and be confident that you are enhancing your career and your employability together.

There may come a time in your Job search in which you may be offered a position from a Company that you know nothing about. You may need to do some FAST Research For Your Career - Know The Real Facts Behind Your Opportunity.

There’s no better way and as a matter of fact it’s your responsibility to go to Interviews and Meetings prepared. Prepared with the facts about what you want and about what’s being offering it to you. Ask yourself;

• Are they a Reputable company?
• What’s the Company history?
• Are they in the middle of an Expansion?
• Are they in Troubled Waters?

So you probably agree with the fact that it’s practically mandatory to dig up some information about any Company you may work for. Hers an example; The Interview is tomorrow, where do you find the info you need to be prepared?

Go Online and start your research, begin by typing in the Companies name into your favorite search engine the places to look for current and relevant info is;

• First Person Feedback Sites - such as Answers.com, Face book, My space, LinkedIn.com etc. they often have info about Companies.
• Business Directories - This is where the dry but important numbers and industry info & data can be found.
• Their Website - this is also an obvious but necessary place to go.
• Job Search Sites - find out all the positions their hiring for.
• Industry Magazines - find out if there on the radar in their Industry.
• Check the Local Online Newspapers for current info.

Once you have this info you can rest assured that you are likely to have some current information. You should have the info on what positions their hiring for, what they produce and who they produce it for. A copy of their recent Press Releases, all of the current News printed about them in the local newspaper and much more.

Before you have your first meeting you should be be as prepared as possible without having actually worked there.

Good Luck and let me know if I can help.