Eight Networking Tips for Job Seekers
By Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CMRC, CFRW www.militaryresumewriters.com and www.careerproplus.com
A lot of people—particularly introverts and the shy—would be extremely grateful if every single job were advertised and
posted in one spot, on one designated website; that way, the whole networking process could be bypassed. But that simply
isn't the way it works for the modern job seeker.
The truth is, the best way to find jobs that aren't advertised is to network. There are many ways you can network;
below are a few tips to get you started, as well as strategies for success.
Read More
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Senator rips Obama's new veterans jobs plan
By Rick Maze
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, DC, September 12, 2012 – One of the Senate's chief deficit hawks complained Wednesday that politicians were making false
promises of jobs to veterans by discussing a bill that will never become law — and would provide only temporary work for veterans if it did.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., was referring to S 3457, the Veterans Job Corps Act, which would devote $1 billion over five years to creating
law enforcement, firefighter and conservation jobs for veterans.
The underlying idea is that...
Read More
|
DuPont pledges that 10 percent of new hires will be Veterans
by Edward Hagan,
the review, The University of Delaware's Independent Student Newspaper
The DuPont Co. has pledged that starting next year, 10 percent of new hires will consist of veterans.
In late August, the chemical company became the first national corporation to formally support the "I Hire Veterans" program
and the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, which are aimed at decreasing veteran unemployment, according to a press release by
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Based on the most recent statistics from the United States Department of Labor,...
Read More
|
Ameren Pledges to Hire 200 Veterans, Military Spouse
First Lady Michelle Obama recently recognized companies such as
Ameren for pledging support to Joined Forces, which is asking private sector businesses to collectively hire or train 100,000
unemployed veterans and their spouses by 2013.
It is the second time in as many years Washington, D.C., has acknowledged Ameren’s commitment to hiring and supporting military
veterans
A year ago, Ameren received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for going to extraordinary lengths to support its military...
Read More
|
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Eight Networking Tips for Job Seekers
By Barbara Adams, CPRW, CEIP, CMRC, CFRW www.militaryresumewriters.com and www.careerproplus.com
A lot of people—particularly introverts and the shy—would be extremely grateful if every single job were advertised and
posted in one spot, on one designated website; that way, the whole networking process could be bypassed. But that simply
isn't the way it works for the modern job seeker.
The truth is, the best way to find jobs that aren't advertised is to network. There are many ways you can network;
below are a few tips to get you started, as well as strategies for success.
1. Brainstorm for Contacts
Think of everyone who could possibly serve as a contact. Don't limit yourself to people who could clearly help you out;
friendly, accessible people in unrelated fields often have contacts they would be happy to share with you. Also, people
who—through either work or volunteer activities—have contact with a diverse crowd can be extremely helpful. To get you started
with your list, here are some suggestions:
Family friends | Local politicians |
Relatives | Journalists |
Neighbors | Business Executives |
Professors | Non-profit Directors |
Alumni | Your physician |
Former employees | Your hairdresser |
Former co-workers | Prominent community members |
Public relations officials | Members of professional organizations |
Religious leaders | |
2. Tried-and-True Places to Network - Where the Contacts Are
Local alumni association | Conventions |
Class reunions | Club meetings |
Cocktail parties | Internet listservs |
Fundraisers | Volunteer opportunities |
Business conferences | Continuing education classes |
3. Be Prepared
Networking is a little like planning a political campaign. While it's essential that you are honest and relaxed, you should
not simply "wing it". Just as politicians think about what they tactically need to accomplish, convey, and gain when they make
an appearance or give a speech, you should approach networking opportunities with a game plan. Before you confidently and charmingly
glide into a business conference room, a dinner party, or group event, do your homework. Find out who will be there, or do your best
to list whom you think will probably be present. Then, decide whom you would most like to meet. Finally, think critically about what
your goals are for your networking function. What information do you want to walk away with? What do you want to convey to the people
you meet? But, as is always true, it's important to be flexible and to perceive opportunities you didn't plan to confront.
4. There Are No Boundaries in Networking
Informational meetings, business conferences, college reunions, and parties are all obvious networking opportunities. However,
the reality is that invaluable contacts and enviable opportunities often surprise us. Good networkers are flexible people who approach
connection making as a fluid enterprise that extends far beyond hotel conference room walls. You never know who will step onto the
adjacent elliptical trainer at the gym; who will be parked behind you in a grocery store line; who will sit next to you on an airplane.
Don't let these opportunities pass you by. While it may have been sheer luck that you bumped into an affable CEO, your savvy approach to
networking can turn a banal exchange into a pivotal moment in your career path. Always be ready to make a contact and exchange business cards.
Additionally, your new contact may be able to give you relevant names of his or her friends and colleagues.
5. Follow Up
After you meet with a contact, it is absolutely essential to write a thank-you note, if the situation deems appropriate. Advise your
contact how much he/she helped you, and refer to particularly helpful, specific advice. Everyone—even the most high-level executive—likes
to feel appreciated. Keep in touch with your contacts via email, LinkedIn, and/or Twitter. This way, they may think of you if an opportunity
comes up, and they will also be forthcoming with new advice. It's important to stay on their radar screens without being imposing or invasive.
6. What Goes Around Comes Around
If you want to be treated with respect, treat others with respect. If you want your phone calls and emails returned, call and write back to
the people who contact you. If you want executives to make time for you, make yourself available to others whom you might be able to help out.
The higher up you climb in the professional world, the more you'll find that everyone knows everyone else. Thus, if you're impolite, curt,
condescending, or disposed to burning bridges, you'll cultivate a reputation that will serve as a constant obstacle. Remember, the people who
seem "little" or unimportant now will one day be running companies and making decisions. If you treated them with kindness and respect when they
were "green", they'll remember and return the favor later.
7. Make It Easy for Your Contacts
When you call, meet with, or write to a potential contact, make it as easy as possible for them to help you. Explain what you specifically
want, and ask detail-oriented questions.
Be sure to avoid making general demands, such as, "Do you know of any jobs that would be good for me?" This sort of question is overwhelming,
and it puts an undue burden on your contact.
8. Stay Organized
Keep a record of your networking. It's important to keep track of your contacts. List contact names, addresses, phone numbers, companies,
job titles, how you met them, and subsequent conversations you've had with them.
Networking is extremely important for discovering those "golden-nugget" positions that you know are out there, but are not published. Just when
you think you've tried everything to land your next job, keep trying, and keep networking.
Barbara Adams, President and CEO of CareerPro Global (CPG), the parent company of www.careerproplus.com and
www.militaryresumewriters.com, has been a member of the careers community for the
past 20 years. Ms. Adams holds four prestigious industry certifications. CareerPro Global is the only ISO 9001-2008 Certified Career
Service in the industry, as well as one of the fastest-growing Military, Federal, and Civilian Resume-Writing and Careers-Coaching
companies. The team of Certified Professional Federal and Military Resume Writers at CPG assist thousands of clients in applying for
and gaining employment each year. We can help you land your military to civilian job.
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Senator rips Obama's new veterans jobs plan
By Rick Maze
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, DC, September 12, 2012 – One of the Senate's chief deficit hawks complained Wednesday that politicians were making false
promises of jobs to veterans by discussing a bill that will never become law — and would provide only temporary work for veterans if it did.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., was referring to S-3457, the Veterans Job Corps Act, which would devote $1 billion over five years to creating law
enforcement, firefighter and conservation jobs for veterans.
The underlying idea is that once veterans are trained, some would find permanent employment.
The measure, a pre-election priority for President Obama, was brought to the Senate floor for consideration without going through the normal
legislative process.
But Coburn noted that the legislation is "not going anywhere in the House of Representatives" and charged that "what we are really doing is
passing a bill for political reasons."
The Senate took up the measure on Tuesday after a 95-1 procedural vote to at least begin debate, but it is unclear if any amendments will be
considered or when a vote on final passage might come.
Coburn said he doesn't see the need for another expensive program like this. "We already have six veterans' job programs. Not one of them has
a metric on it to see if it is working. There has not been one hearing to see what the jobs program that we are running now are doing."
"Is this about veterans or is this about politicians?" Coburn said. "I suspect it is about politicians. I suspect it is about elections, not
veterans."
Veterans already have hiring preference for permanent government jobs, he said, which are better than the temporary positions envisioned under
the Veterans' Jobs Corps bill.
Coburn also complained that the measure is aimed at post-9/11 veterans but not other generations. "This is blatant discrimination," he said.
"One class of veterans is better than another class of veterans? Tell me how. Is somebody that died in the Vietnam War less honorable than somebody
who has given their life in Afghanistan?"
Rep. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., the bill's chief sponsor, said Tuesday that the measure is aimed at post-9/11 veterans because the unemployment rate
in August for this new generation of veterans is 10.9 percent, higher than the 6.6 percent jobless rate for all generations of veterans.
Back
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DuPont pledges that 10 percent of new hires will be Veterans
by Edward Hagan, the review, The University of Delaware's Independent Student Newspaper
The DuPont Co. has pledged that starting next year, 10 percent of new hires will consist of veterans.
In late August, the chemical company became the first national corporation to formally support the "I Hire Veterans" program
and the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, which are aimed at decreasing veteran unemployment, according to a press release by
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Based on the most recent statistics from the United States Department of Labor, there are currently more than 750,000 unemployed
veterans in the country. There are more than 100,000 troops expected to return home in the next three years, Manchin said.
DuPont spokeswoman Tara Condon-Tullier said the company is proud to support returning soldiers.
"We've always had a tradition of looking for veterans to fill roles at DuPont," Tullier said. "With their focus on things like
detail, discipline and safety, they often gel very well with the culture here."
She said DuPont, whose workforce exceeds 70,000 people, currently hires 2-3,000 new employees annually. Of these new hires,
7-8 percent of them are veterans, Tullier said.
Cadet Capt. Tyle Tripop, a senior civil engineering major and member of the ROTC program, said he thinks DuPont's pledge of
support is a step in the right direction for veterans, who often have a difficult time finding work opportunities or readjusting to
life at home after completing their service.
"I think this policy is something that, as a country, we don’t really have a lot of," Tripop said. "It's great to see a big
company like DuPont taking a stand, though. Hopefully others will follow."
Tripop said he enjoys the program and is considering making a career out of the army by staying for longer than the required
service. He said he worries about the career opportunities that will be available to him after he returns home.
Air Force Lt. Col. Andy Dahlgren who is also a UPS plane pilot, said he sees the policy’s benefits, but he is skeptical of
preferential hiring.
"It plants the seed that an individual may feel a false sense of security," Dahlgren said. "They feel like they don't have to
perform or be as accomplished. It's a bad attitude for employment. People should strive to be hired on their merits."
Senior command sergeant major Rob Elliot, also a member of the university's ROTC program, said he agrees with the policy. He
said DuPont's effort to hire more veterans is an example of how similar programs can not only help veterans find jobs, but also
aid in fostering a better relationship between soldiers and civilians.
"I think it shows that more companies are understanding what is going on overseas and the difficulties that soldiers experience
when they come back, despite the negative media," Elliot said.
He said he appreciates that there are more support structures being offered to veterans and hopes more employers adopt policies
similar to DuPont's.
"Other companies are going to see the benefits of these programs and potentially do the same thing," Elliot said. "Who knows how
far it will go?"
Back
|
Ameren Pledges to Hire 200 Veterans, Military Spouse
First Lady Michelle Obama recently recognized companies such as
Ameren for pledging support to Joined Forces, which is asking private sector businesses to collectively hire or train 100,000
unemployed veterans and their spouses by 2013.
It is the second time in as many years Washington, D.C., has acknowledged Ameren’s commitment to hiring and supporting military
veterans
 A year ago,
Ameren received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for going to extraordinary lengths to support its military employees.
Now the company has accepted the Joined Forces job challenge initiative. Ameren pledges to hire 200 veterans and military spouses
over the next five years.
"We are proud of our legacy of hiring veterans," said Thomas R. Voss, chairman, president and CEO of Ameren, and an Air Force veteran.
"We have long supported our employees who are called for active duty by providing security and support through continued benefits to
employed reservists and their families," he said.
Through the first eight months of this year, 10 percent of Ameren’s new hires have been military veterans. Overall, of Ameren’s 9,300
employees working in Illinois and Missouri, more than 600 are veterans.
With assets of approximately $23 billion, Ameren serves 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a
64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.
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