Moms are experts at networking, a term used in the job search field. After all, we schedule everything from our kids’ play dates to our car’s maintenance using information we gather from other parents whom we have dealings with every day. You might not consider yourself networking when you drop the kids off at school and get the latest news from other parents on where to shop, what camps are the most inexpensive, and the best place to get your clothes mended, but you are.
When a parent has not been a wage-earner for awhile, she or he may feel a bit lost when beginning their search for employment. Internet job searches and the classified ads can become tedious and confusing. That is not your best approach. You are a networking master! You want to get out there and mingle and gather information because that’s what you do best. You have developed a talent for connecting with other parents and those talents can and should be put to work to find employment. Use your finely-tuned skills and get out there and do what you do best – network.
Even finely-honed skills can benefit from a few tips of the trade. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, there are certain bullet-points to consider as you move through your networking strategy. Keep these tips in mind as you plan your job search.
1) Be Prepared – Update your resume and keep copies with you at all times. Also, have professional business cards printed for you. You never know who you might meet in an elevator.
2) Keep In Touch – Your professional contacts are your lifeline to the job market. Stay in contact with them by calling or writing them a short note to let them know where your networking is leading you. If you have common interests, like sporting events, for instance, be sure to get to a game or two in order to stay visible. An email is impersonal and should only be used if your contact specifically requests that you email them. However, always follow up with a personal note, especially a thank you note if your contact actually took time to interview you.
3) Talk First With People You Know – Begin networking by talking to your friends, family, teachers, professors, former supervisors, managers, and other people you trust. Practice selling yourself first to those who know you. Get their opinion about whether they would hire you based on your personal sales pitch. Then ask them for some ideas and names of people you should contact.
4) Contact People You Don’t Know – Your friends and acquaintances will refer you to people you don’t know. Here’s where you start to reach deep within your networking talents. Begin each conversation with information about how you received their name. This will set up a common ground. Ask about them, who they are, and listen to what they have to say. You are initially establishing rapport, not asking for a job. You want a professional relationship with your new contact.
5) Ask For Information, Not A Job – You’re meeting this new contact to find out about them, first. You are not looking for a job. That comes later. At this point, you are gathering information and showing interest in this contact and what they think. Be patient, this getting-to-know-you part may take several meetings. You may be surprised at the information you gather if you listen with an open, inquisitive mind.
6) Focus – Your conversations should be focused, not meandering hither and yon. Ask brief, concise questions about the mission of the company, the plans for the future, and anything else that will give you insight into your new networking partner. Find out what you can about your new contact, and leave the “housekeeping” for later conversations.
7) Look for Opportunities to Give Something Back – When receiving helpful information from a new contact, be prepared to reciprocate. Have something of value, such as information or a new contact, to give back. If you provide a service, for instance photography, offer to help your new contact out with some simple quality photos. Offer to take photos of an upcoming family party, for free, of course, just to showcase your quality photo work. You can establish your credibility this way as well as building goodwill.
Be Reliable – When you tell your new contact that you will give them a call, be sure to call them as planned. If it is difficult to reach them by phone, keep trying. You need to establish the fact that you are trustworthy, so keep your promises.
9) Join Professional Associations Or Organizations – If you are pursuing employment in a certain trade, join a professional association in that industry. You’ll find a whole new group of contacts. Members of trade associations are normally eager to help job seekers, and often know employers with open positions.
10) Seek A Mentor – When you develop relationships with your new contacts, you’ll probably gravitate to someone who exemplifies your ideals. If that person is gracious enough to offer you time, take them up on their offer! Shadowing someone during their workday is one way that a mentor can share their experience with you in a very eye-opening way. Ask questions and listen… you never know what you could learn. Your mentor is a professional, so be sure you follow their lead. Have a fresh stack of business cards and your resume ready!
The networking skills you have developed as a parent have you well on the way to a successful search for employment. You should take full advantage of your networking talents whether you’ve been in the job market before or if this is the first time you’ve worked outside the home. Don’t sell yourself short – you are a master at networking!
A Family Budget is a necessity, whether you have one income or two in your household. Begin by Tracking Your Personal Expenses, then move on to creating a schedule of payments that you can live with. You’ll need to have discipline, but you can do it!