Relying on warm contacts

Some job applicants may find it difficult to use networking in their pursuit of a good job because they cannot rely on their warm contacts to provide the information needed. It is almost a certainty that the average job applicant would, at some point during the job search, have to ask his/her list of warm contacts for referrals to at least two people they know who will be able to provide job-related information.

However, there are times that a warm contact – particularly if s/he doesn’t know the applicant well – may not readily provide the information requested; and some warm contacts might feel reluctant about vouching for the applicant to their other contacts.

Based on this set of facts – if you are the applicant – it could possibly be difficult to effectively use your network in your pursuit of acceptable employment. Therefore we’ve put together a few tips we hope will be helpful in simplifying your networking and referral-getting efforts.

Nurture your warm contacts

Before you even have a need to all on your warm contacts or before you even ask for help, make sure to keep in touch with each member of your warm contacts list. You can easily do this by sending notes or greeting cards from time to time; you can make a phone call to chat a little with them them; you could also invite them to lunch, show interest or help in their business; or do anything to cultivate your relationship with them.

By nurturing the relationship, you will find it much easier to reach out to them when you need their help, because they will remember you and therefore will more readily provide information about their other contacts that are able to assist you.

Be polite and listen

Since you might not have close personal relationships with some of your valuable warm contacts, it may inappropriate – depending on the individual – to just give them a call and ask them for information about your field of interest. Sometimes, sending a note in advance, or asking to meet them for lunch is a better way to ask for their help.

Most of the time, even if your warm contact knows little about the field in which you are attempting to find a job, they might still offer you advice. However, it is during these interactions that you must be polite and show interest in what they are saying; because, who knows? the information they’re sharing might possibly be valuable to you in the future.

There are times when your warm contacts may be giving you tips on which approach will work best when you talk to the persons you are being referred to; and your warm contacts may also imply what qualities and qualifications the person is looking for, so it is important to listen attentively, thereby showing interest in what they have to say.

Ask for at least two referrals

Before you ask for referrals, make sure your warm contact had said everything s/he has to say about your field of interest. Even if s/he knows little about that field, it is impolite if you interrupt while s/he is speaking simply to ask an inane question like, if s/he knows anyone who will be able to help you.

If s/he wasn’t able to refer you to at least one contact, thoughtfully ask why s/he couldn’t do so. You might get answers that include indirect comments or suggestions. The contact may also indicate a lack of confidence in your work strategy, and if so, you may have to make follow up calls/meetings with them to prove that you are indeed credible and have the ability to match his/her requirements.

However, there are also times when a warm contact can’t refer you to his/her own contacts because s/he simply doesn’t know anybody who might have the information or interest in the product. In this case, ask that s/he keep you in mind and continue looking for opportunities that you might be interested in. Of course you could also leave copies of your resume with all your warm contacts.

Ask only for two referrals

The rule of thumb is that two referrals are enough from each warm contact since a job applicant should have a second option in case the first one didn’t work out. On the other hand, asking for more than two referrals could be seen as impolite because it could be too time consuming for your warm contact.

Also, such a request might make your warm contact feel that you are relying too heavily on him/her for your job search. So unless they volunteer the information, don’t ask for more than 2 referrals.

Contact referrals as soon as possible

When your warm contacts provide you with referrals, they might also call these people to personally provide more information about you. Contrarily, when you contact the people to whom you were referred, your referrals may call your warm contacts to verify the information or to ask for more information about you.

Either way, you have to contact your referrals early enough so that these they can still remember their conversation with your warm contact, or your warm contact can still remember you have talked to them. At times, after your referrals were contacted by your warm contacts, they anticipate your call and even prepare questionnaires and exams for you to take.

Do not waste this opportunity by delaying follow-up on referrals. We hope that keeping these tips in mind will help you during the occasions that you have to ask your warm contacts for good referrals.

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Shun the “unfit” label

When applying for a job, it is paramount that you identify your strengths and weaknesses in addition to being prepared to address them in conversation. By knowing your attributes, chances are that getting the job you really want will surely get easier.

However, you should not be too confident since overconfidence is one of the common mistakes that plagues job applicants. Appearing too confident, or giving the impression that you are somewhat of a know-it-all, will only get you labeled by the interviewer as unfit for the job.

Identifying your skills

That having been said, let’s begin with first things first: Identify your skills. This is your ticket to get that job, and you should be able to articulate your abilities and expertise as best as you can. Many people have a hard time communicating their skills and abilities as this is sometimes seen as bragging when done socially. But you should not be shy or afraid to discuss your skills when pursuing a job; especially one that requires such skills.

In fact, it is important that you convey to your potential employer what your talents are; and in that situation be able to sell your abilities to that employer. Your ability to do so will be instrumental in getting the job that you really want. Just as important however, is that you do not appear arrogant or condescending while being careful to avoid selling yourself short.

If the interviewer asks you about your strengths or what separates you from the other applicants, you should be able to readily give a suitable or acceptable answer. So before you even go to the interview part of the process, your resume should highlight your skills and talents for the prospective employer to take a look at.

Types of skills

There are two main types of skills: Hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are tangible in the sense that these are things you do like. For example, knowing how to operate different kinds of machinery, knowledge of a specialized computer program, ability to type fast, skills on using various types of tools, credentials regarding special crafts, etc.

Soft skills on the other hand, are skills that tend to be rather abstract in nature, like personal qualities. This may include, for example, being a good team player, having the ability to work on your own, being enthusiastic or organizational and decisive.

The Steps to Follow

List your previous jobs and acquired experience

First thing you’d want to do is make a list of all the companies you worked for and the things you learned from those jobs. There will be a lot of things to list and you should be careful enough not to forget even the smallest details of activities you participated in or organized. It is also a good idea to list the volunteer activities you participated in.

Include a list of your hobbies

Although it might sound trivial at first, it is also very helpful to list all your hobbies. There are a lot of abilities that your prospective employer may get from your hobby list, a list which might also provide some insight into your personality.

For example, if you were part of the school’s debating team, your employer may deduce that you have good analytical skills. If you were a champion chess player, your employer might interpret this to mean you are good at making critical decisions.

Think of your daily routine and the things you do and often take for granted. Are you an organized person who always keep your things in proper order? Are you an extrovert who can easily make friends in a matter of minutes? These may seem ordinary to normal things to you, but your future boss might think otherwise.

Your decisions

Deciding what career you want – After listing all your skills and all the things you do well, it is then time to decide what field or career you want to pursue. Select the skills outlined on your list and partner them with the employment you are seeking. Always take time to consider if your skills are relevant to the job which you are aspiring toward.

Don’t worry if you have to remove some of the skills from your list. It is also important to include on your “skills list” any abilities the prospective employer will likely value, depending of course, on the particular employer.

Stand by what you write – You should be realistic about your skills and the level of expertise you are capable of. For example, if you indicate that you are a very organized person, then you should be able to show this to the interviewer by being able to organize your thoughts and effectively use the time that was given for your interview.

It is important to know your skills every time you go job hunting because you should always put your best foot forward. Good luck!