It's your job to coach your friends on networking skills

Here are the latest updates for neldondemke@yahoo.com   For all my followers, if you haven't connected to Jason Alba or looked into Jibber Jobber, you're not helping yourself.  Here is a recent blog of interest to most of us. I've inserted some of my comments:   "JibberJobber Blog" - 1 new article How to REALLY Help a Job Seeker More Recent Articles Search JibberJobber Blog Prior Mailing Archive How to REALLY Help a Job Seeker One question I hated while in a job search was: How’s your job search going? The answer I said was “it’s going okay,” but what I thought was “it sucks more than you could imagine!” When I speak I share a brilliant response to the question, but in this post I want to share an idea I had for people who ASK the question.  Feel free to forward this on to the entire world, because EVERYONE should think about this. Perhaps this normal question is the best way to start out the conversation, and 99% of job seekers respond as I have below, but then see how the conversation changes after their lame response Job Seeker Friend: How’s your job search going? Job Seeker: Fine. Job Seeker Friend: If there's anything I can do (person's thoughts -don't call because I don't know about any open positions) Job Seeker:  (I wish he would ask the right questions so next time how about coaching him/her to ask instead:) Job Seeker Friend: What companies are you trying to get into? Job Seeker: Oh, um, I’ve been applying at Company A, Company B and Company C.  There are others, but those are the three I’m most interested in. Job Seeker Friend: I might know someone at one of those companies… let me see if I can find their information for you.  I might have to look it up and get back to you this evening, send me an email so I don't forget. Job Seeker: That would be great – can you send an email to that contact introducing us to one another?  I find an introduction is much better than me calling out of the blue. Job Seeker Friend: That’s a great idea, I’ll do it as soon as I find their information. Job Seeker: Thank you!  (now coach them to ask the following question) Job Seeker Friend: What titles are you interviewing for? Job Seeker: I’m looking for a role as a ____ or an _____. Job Seeker Friend: You know, I think I know someone who has been a ___ for a while.  I can introduce you to her, also. Job Seeker: I really appreciate the leads!  I will be sure to follow up with them, and I’ll let you know how it goes.  Now be sure to get back to your friend immediately relative to his introductions to let him or her know how it went.  They may think of someone else. Job Seeker Friend: Great.  You’ll see a few emails soon. Job Seeker: Thank you! See how this works?  There are a few things going on here.  Here’s the dialog again, with my comments in black: Job Seeker Friend: How’s your job search going? Job Seeker: Fine. We all hate this question… but if you end here you miss an opportunity! Job Seeker Friend: this is where it usually ends, right? Job Seeker Friend: What companies are you trying to get into? This question is GOLD.  Coach your friends to ask you this question. Job Seeker: Oh, um, I’ve been applying at Company A, Company B and Company C.  There are others, but those are the three I’m most interested in. You should be able to list three target companies at all times.  You can change them as often as you wish, but you need to be able to rattle them off. Job Seeker Friend: I might know someone at one of those companies… let me see if I can find their information for you. Job Seeker: That would be great – can you send an email introducing us to one another?  I find an introduction is much better than me calling out of the blue. This is SO true… an email intro is worth 100 times what you get from an email address or phone number. Job Seeker Friend: That’s a great idea, I’ll do it as soon as I find their information. Job Seeker: Thank you! Job Seeker Friend: What titles are you interviewing for? Another golden question! Job Seeker: I’m looking for a role as a ____ or an _____. Job Seeker Friend: You know, I think I know someone who has been a ___ for a while.   I can introduce you to her, also. Job Seeker: I really appreciate the leads!  I will be sure to follow up with them, and I’ll let you know how it goes. This is so critical.  If you give an intro, let the person know that you actually acted on it – they are more likely to do more introductions later. Job Seeker Friend: Great.  You’ll see a few emails soon. Job Seeker: Thank you! It is our job, as job seekers, to help people who want to help us. If someone asks “how’s your job search going,” don’t blow it. Instead, help them understand how they can help you – give them a little work to do. They’ll appreciate it! Jason hit on the two questions we must coach our contacts to ask us.  If we do this our contacts will be less put off by our silence and they will feel better about helping us.