How Do I Get a Job?
It must be springtime. Some people see robins returning or daffodils budding. For me, the calls for help to find a job, give a reference, or make an introduction are another sign of spring. Graduating students and people leaving their company may benefit by thinking about how best to use their linkages, as I discussed in my FISO book, to help them land a job. In Mastering the FISO Factor, I discuss some tactics...and it is time for a refresher. There are three important aspects of linkages: opportunity, creativity and productivity.
Opportunity
Some people underestimate the potential of weak ties. Mark Granovetter, a chaired professor at Stanford University, has a counter-intuitive argument. He argues that weak ties (those linkages with people who are outside our immediate circles) were often more valuable sources than strong ties (linkages with direct associates at work, close friends, and family). Granovetter studied how people find jobs. What he found supported his theory: people did not tend to find jobs through strong ties because people linked by strong ties usually share the same networks and knowledge. Instead, jobs often come to us through weak ties with those acquaintances who travel in circles different than our own.
The lesson: Do not neglect the development of linkages with people outside your “social clusters.” They help you reach resources beyond your immediate ken.
Creativity
One must know how to reach their weak ties. Recently, I have received emails from people requesting job help or references. Young people seem to think email is the only way to touch people in their network effectively for job searches. It is only one tool in the toolkit. As a sender, it may be easy, but you never know if your email reached your designated receiver. As a receiver, it’s much easier to ignore an email query than a face-to-face or at least a phone conversation. Follow-up your email and well-written cover letter with a phone call. Use a little creativity to stand out in the crowd when you are seeking help or looking for a job. One suggestion is to ask others how they landed their first job or how they entered a particular field in which you are interested. This not only will be informative and helpful, but will show your interest in others.
In my own experience, I have found the best linkages are built on mutual benefit, but the best way to start a relationship is to be the first to provide a benefit. Consider it an investment in the future. Like any risk, your investments may not grow as you had hoped, but the ones that do will more than cover your losses.
Productivity
Consider using internal linkages within your company. Before launching a job search, ask yourself if there might be opportunities to stay with your company and develop more skills. Chasing after someone high in an organization or on the company’s Board of Directors can be self-defeating. As a member of several boards, I represent shareholder interests and sit in review of top management decisions. My interface with company employees is mainly limited to the President and Senior Vice-Presidents. I do not make decisions for them, but review their planning, direction, strategy, goals, etc. Day-to-day decisions, such as hiring and firing employees, are not the purview of Board members. This distance allows Board members to be objective assessors of management. Even someone I deal with at the VP level would become understandably defensive if I tried to use my power to encourage him or her to hire a friend. This would be seen as overbearing, intimidating, and quite frankly, none of my business. To impose my judgment regarding hiring on someone several levels lower than the VPs I deal with would be even more inappropriate. It would be better for you to seek a referral or introduction from someone who already knows your performance.
As you think about how you want to organize your job search, many opportunities exist. Your linkages will help you be successful. Tread carefully, but diligently to get the job of your dreams.
