Group Hugs

Posted by Jim Stroud

January 11, 2008

Okeydokey, where are we? Oh yeah…group hugs.

If you are not a member of an organization pertaining to your field of expertise, shame on you. If you are a member of an organization pertaining to your field and not active in it, then shame on you. If you are ,however, a member who shows up most of the time and knows most of the faces ,well, there is hope for you yet. Chances are if you attend enough of your group’s meeting, people will remember you enough to associate you with that group. (Not the best scenario, but a workable one.)

Being an active member of a group promotes the number one ideal when seeking a job.
It is not whom YOU know, but who knows YOU!

And you can shout that from the rooftops all day long. I mention in my (long-forgotten) e-book, “How Do I Find A Job When The Economy Sucks?” about a speaking engagement I had once with the Organization Of Chinese Americans where I discussed tips, tricks and ideas on how to get a job in a sucky economy. For those who do not know me personally, I have very few ties into the Chinese community of Atlanta. So how did it come to pass that I was speaking to an audience of Chinese Americans from an organization I never knew about in a meeting hall I had never been in before? Simple, somebody knew me.

A year earlier, I met Jerry Chang, a VERY capable Corporate Developer from Headhunter. net, at a networking function. We touched base a couple of times since, but it was not until he saw my name in The Wall Street Journal recently that we formally touched base again. It turns out that he was an influential member of a career fair for Asian Americans and needed a speaker and asked me to jump in. I said “sure” and hopefully accomplished some good. Please see this clearly! I was given an opportunity that I knew nothing about with people I did not know because someone knew me.

Joining a group and being active, or at the least being seen there regularly can have payoffs in ways you do not know. For example, what if you joined a networking group and happened to bump into someone over the chips and dip and you guys start talking? There is no telling where that can lead, possibly nowhere and possibly to the moon, who knows? Plus the benefit of networking with people in a group is that at the very least, you have something in common to talk about. Takes the pressure off of coming up with an opening line, yes? Yes. (If only dating could be so easy.)

Okay, so you have joined two groups of your choice and I say two because I think it is a realistic number. If you prefer not to join two groups, then join one and attend multiple networking functions to augment the one you missed out on. Realize also that there are benefits to both. By staying connected with the same people, you are solidifying yourself in their minds and promoting the possibilities of referrals coming your way. By keeping in touch with the same people regularly (group meetings) and going to new networking functions, also allows you to meet different people. These chance encounters may pay dividends in the long run. Come to think about it, join one group and keep networking; as I write this I realize that such is the better option.

Once you have established initial contact, set up a point of follow-up on your calendar to touch base with them again. The purpose is not to become a pest by constantly bugging someone to give you a job, but to psychologically place your stamp on his or her mind.

For example, the next day (or same day, preferably), send a SHORT note to the person you want to stay close to. Remind them of where you both met and offer some information to them that may prove immediately useful to them.

Here is an example:

Joe,

It was a pleasure meeting you at the AITA meeting yesterday! If you remember I was the Atlanta Falcon fan you teased by the punch bowl. (Wait ’til next year -smile.) I wish you continued success in your new position as CEO of ABC Companies. I attached an article about how 123 Companies is entering your space. Just in case you didn’t already know.

Stay in touch!

Jim Stroud, Recruiter Extraordinaire
“I recruit therefore I am.”
404-256-7383

Now notice that in addition to the SHORT letter I sent him, I also added my contact information, and (hopefully) a catchy phrase for him to remember me by. Now when you follow-up with this person, you will type a new message above this one. In this way, he is reminded of how you two met, your skillset and a reason to connect again. The person you speak to may be so swamped that they may forget who you are, so sending a letter with the initial one attached helps everyone to save face.

Now if you have timed this and subsequent letters properly, then this CEO will always think of you whenever a staffing issue comes to mind. This is EXACTLY what you want and can only work to your benefit. Put yourself in their shoes, “Why place a job-ad for a recruiter when I know one already?”

PLEASE NOTE that you must (and I cannot underscore this enough) be careful how many “HI!” notes you send to someone that you have not met or fully connected with. I suggest a 90-day interval for senior management and for recruiters (if you are not aggressively seeking employment, but rather have your options open). If you are very active with your job search, time contact with recruiters for every 3 weeks. By the way, an e-card MIGHT work, but with so much Spam out there I would not try it. It may give a bad first impression or just get deleted and you would never know.

Okay, it feels like I have been off on a tangent, so let me get back on track. You join a group; make contacts within the group and follow-up with those contacts. So where do you go from here?

1. Every business organization has a roster of members and (usually) a listing of where they work. (I am a member of the Atlanta IT Alliance and we have such a listing.)

2. Remember the job-searching network I suggested you start? This is where information like that comes in handy. Compare the info from your job-searching network you started with the roster of people in your group. Are there any members in your group working at a company you know is hiring? A referral from someone within a company is MUCH better than someone walking in off the street because it somehow makes you more “real” to a recruiter when someone knows you. (But not necessarily more qualified. Go figure…)

Whoops, I almost forgot something! Whenever you go to network with people at an organization, DO NOT take your resume! You will look desperate (unless you know recruiters will be there) and you do not want to give a negative impression - ever. Instead, I suggest you take your little friend. I am speaking of your business card. But wait, you say that you do not have a business card because you do not have a job, which is why you have read this far. Okay, I hear you, but I have to tell you this… CREATE ONE NOW!

Let me explain it like this…

I was at one of a zillion networking events the other day when I met a guy named Alan Fralick. Alan was open to new opportunities and trying to network his way into a new job by rubbing elbows with his peers. When I told him I was a recruiter, he did not give me a resume. He gave me something MUCH better.

Alan created a business card (probably from his home computer) with his name, contact info and a bullet point list of his skillsets. On the back of the card was a more detailed description of what he brought to an employer’s table. It was quick, simple and easy! I did not have to fold his resume up and stick it in my back pocket or carry it around under my arm with my other stuff. At a glance I knew he was a Technologist, what he was capable of and how to reach him. Very smooth technique and it had the effect of “My name is Bond… James Bond” in contrast to several others almost forcing resumes in my face. (By the way, if you ever need someone strong in LAN/WAN Engineering, Information Security or Change Management let me know and I will pass you on to Alan.)

Another cool thing about his card is that I could put it in my business card holder that I keep next to me in my desk. (Very convenient) By printing up some cards for yourself and passing them out to people, you have a means of celebrating your work history, but maintaining a sense of privacy at the same time. Something to think about…

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