Support is the Key to Success!

I'm training for my first half-marathon right now. Our coach had us form success groups: 4 to 6 people in each group, to encourage each other through the week, run together on our training days, and be there for each other. A support group. My group is the "Back of the Packers". We walk more than we run, but we still compete and we finish races!

Having a support group is critical in a lot of areas of life, especially in a job search. There are lots of ways to find or get support, and it doesn't matter what kind of support group you join or form. But it is important to have.

At the networking mixers that I have attended, I have met a lot of people who participate in job clubs. A Job Club is rather structured in that you are given certain tasks to complete and must report back at the next meeting. They usually meet weekly.

I wasn't interested in that much support. I am highly motivated on my own. I'm a social media guru. I'm outgoing. But I still need support because even I can't be on task 24/7! Instead, I have formed a loose-knit support network with a few friends who are in the same boat. Let's face it, in this economy, everyone has at least one friend who is also a job seeker.

One of my friends was a former co-worker. We lost our jobs at the same company about 2 months apart. We also live near each other and were quite social outside of work so we naturally spend a lot of time together. We decided to work out together three days a week during the day. During our workouts, we would share job leads, bounce ideas off each other, practice answers to interview questions, etc. Oddly enough, we have both accepted long-term temporary assignments recently and we begin our new jobs on the same day!

Another friend I know through volunteering. We discovered that we were both unemployed via Facebook. We decided to attend a mixer together to catch up and network at the same time. Since then, we have formed an informal club. I showed her my blog, my Twitter account and how I use both. She shared tips she gleaned from webinars. The next mixer we attended together, she was doing the presentation on how to use Social Media! We stay in touch mostly by email, but sometimes by phone and in person. She's a great sounding board for me and I love being one of the folks she chooses to proofread her blog posts. I feel like I'm getting the inside scoop!

Lastly, I have another friend and former co-worker who just lost her job. I am probably more support to her than she is to me at this point, but I love the insight that I am gaining from talking to her. Her approach is fresh, and the questions she is asking me are inspiring me with new ideas. I hope that we continue to meet for lunch or via email even as my new assignment begins.

So I encourage you to find or form a support network of your own. We all need a little help from our friends!

Job Shower? Maybe...Maybe not...

I just read an interesting blog post on how to throw yourself a job shower.

Throw Yourself A Job Shower

The author has some good points that reflect back on my earlier post on tips for making the most of a networking mixer. If people attend networking mixers with the intention of only what's in it for them, then nobody gets anything out of it, and the whole event is a drain.

But if people attend thinking about how they can help others, then everyone gets something out of it.

The last mixer that I attended, I met several people who I could really help with job leads. Not all of them had cards, but I gave all of them my card and told them to contact me after the mixer so that I could give them more details about leads that I have, contacts that I have, etc. The surprising thing is that none of these people contacted me afterward to follow through.

So my last additional tip for successful networking is just that - follow through on your leads. If you find that you can't remember who the people were, make notes on the back of their cards while you're talking to them. And if someone tells you that they have leads for you, don't blow them off.

Unless, of course, you have your ideal job all picked out. In that case, by all means, throw yourself a Job Shower.

Networking Mixers - Here's How Do It Right

I have attended several different kinds of networking mixers lately from PinkSlipMixers.com events to LinkedIn events to alumni events. I've made a lot of good connections and I've had a chance to observe lots of different kinds of people and it occurred to me that networking at a mixer is a lot like the bar scene for dating. A lot of the same rules apply. So here are my tips for successful networking at mixers.

Dress appropriately. Not all of these events will be attended by recruiters or hiring managers, but some of them might and you should always make a good impression. Business Casual should be the minimum. No Jeans, No Crocs, No Flip Flops, No logo T-shirts. You don't want to look like you were just gardening or washing the car and then turned up at the mixer.

Arrive early. This is especially important if you are somewhat introverted. It will be an instant icebreaker that you were one of the first to arrive. You can greet the host and warm up your small talk before the room is packed and more intimidating.

Have good body language. Even if chairs are provided, it's better to remain standing. You will seem more approachable. If you are holding a drink, set it down once in a while and talk with your hands. You will appear interesting. If you are standing alone, don't cross your arms in front of your body or put your hands on your hips. Keep your head up and look around the room and try to make eye contact with someone that you would like to come over to you. Raising your eyebrows or tilting your head signals that you are approachable. The hardest thing to do is to walk up to a group of people already engaged in conversation. So look for a smaller group of two or three people, hover nearby and at a lull in their conversation, introduce yourself.

Be a giver, not a taker. Networking is not just about what's in it for you. It's about sharing your contacts and job leads with others. So be a giver. Listen to what the people you meet are saying and think about how you can help them. Give them a reason to want to help you. This also goes for your contacts who are employed. Don't just ask them for help when you are unemployed. Keep in touch throughout the year, even if it's just for coffee or a quick email. They'll be much more likely to help you if you aren't a drain.

Learn to take suggestions. People will offer you all kinds of advice if they are in the "giving" mood. Some of it will be good, some of it won't, but learn how to take all of their suggestions gracefully. Even if some of what they suggest isn't really for you, it might spark a thought that hadn't occurred to you before. It also may be good advice that you can pass on to someone else.

Make sure you circle the room at least twice. This will give you the opportunity to see if anyone new has come in or if someone who was busy in a large group is now available to chat. You can also walk up to groups that include people you met earlier and meet the new people they are chatting with.

After the event, make sure to keep in touch with the people that you met that are quality contacts. Add them to your LinkedIn network and follow them on Twitter.

As you grow your network, you will make new friends, find mentors and support, and maybe, just maybe, find that dream job you've been looking for.

Bon chance!