"A NOTICE"

I have been taking a hiatus from my blog the last few weeks because this system that I have been talking about has come to fruition. I am now employed with a company that I chose. In my system I narrowed down my targets to a few companies and then went after them. Just a little teaser of what's to come in my Career Networking Blog is that I was offered a position with a company that : A) I CHOSE B) HAD NO POSITION AVAILABLE C) HAD NO BUDGET FOR A NEW EMPLOYEE D) WAS OFFERED A SALARY + COMMISION E) THEY SKIPPED THE 90 TRIAL PERIOD F) NEVER HAD AN INTERVIEW IMAGINE THAT! YES IT IS POSSIBLE. Next time I will continue on with The Meeting and all the necessary steps in these meetings and how to leverage the info learned from one meeting to get more and to use this info in the next meting to your advantage.

Next Time: MORE MEETING

Until then,

Tom Matula

"The Meeting"

When I first started having these meetings, I had no idea what I should ask or talk about......But I learned! There are some very obvious but important things to remember. Firstly: BE ON TIME- This is important for any meeting but especially if you are wanting to show your leadership qualities. BE DRESSED- It is always better to be over dressed than under. BE COURTIOUS- Always stand when someone greets you and shake their hand with a smile. I have known of people not getting hired for not doing this. BE PREPARED- When you say you have some questions for them, then have some! These are very important points and not to be taken for granted. Keep in mind that although these are not labeled as an "Interview" believe me, THEY ARE! On one meeting that I went on I didn't bring a list of questions as I said I would and the CEO I was meeting with asked about my questions. I was caught off guard, but I managed to get around the question. OOPS! I learned to be prepared. The actual questions that you prepare are very important. They should be very specific and target responses that will give you information about them and their comoany that will help you if you chose to target them as a place you want to work. These are not random questions. My objective in interviewing these executives was to ind out about them and the organization that they are running (The Culture that exist there). You've heard the ole saying that "A fish stinks from the head down". That's what I wanted to know. That saying applies equally if the leadership is good.

Next time "More From The Meeting"

Until then,

Tom Matula

"The Plan Of Attack"

     The idea here is to target the companies that you want to work for. However first you have to find out which companies they are. To do this I started with the top 25 list of companies in my target industry. I went over the list and chose about 6 to 8 companies. I then wrote an Advice & Information letter to each CEO/President. If there were 2 partners, I just chose one.  I would email the letter if I could locate the CEO's email address. If not then I would snail mail it to them.

     The letter was quite simple. It started out with a paragraph containing an introduction, and an acknowledgment of there position as a leader in the industry. I then went on to explain what I would like from them. The next paragraph was to let them know that I was not asking them for a job, but merely their advice and information. I asked for their advice as to the industry as it existed and as to how my skills could relate to the industry. The next paragraph was a short one outlining my skills, talents and accomplishments. I concluded by letting them know that I would like a 15-20 minute meeting and that I would call them in a couple of days to follow up. The key here is to actually do it. I was amazed as to how many were actually impressed that I followed up.

Sometimes it would take 2-3 emails and 2-3 vmails to actually reach them. But be persistent. When I did reach them I would remind them of the letter and then ask to schedule a meeting with them at their office at their convenience.  I would send out about 6-8 of these letters a week and then work on setting up appointments. The next week I would do the same with 6-8 different companies. After a couple of weeks I would start to get appointments and the system would start to roll.

Next time "The Meeting"

Until then.

Tom Matula

"Inside the haystack"

When mentioning the haystack I am refering to a networking event of any type or size. I remember as a teenager I was a wallflower at a dance and the thought of asking someone to talk or actually dance was very scary. I've gotten over that now although I am still technically still an introvert. However the fear of failure is still strong.

When you go to a networking event and walk into a room of people and look around at all those people who seem to be talking and laughing and knowing each other, and then there's you, can be pretty overwhelming. How do you start a conversation with someone you don't know? It's not as hard as you may think. First of all you don't have to talk to everyone there. Depending on the amount of time you have there, try to have 3-4 good in depth conversations with different people. The beauty of networking with other people is that some are Diamonds or precious gems, some are minerals and of coarse some are just rocks. Ya never know what you'll get!

 Building your network is a slow process that requires a lot of work. When I first began networking I went to each event looking at everyone there and wondering who they were, who they know and how can they help me. I don't anymore. Now I go and introduce myself and ask about them and then listen. Usually I will be able to find a way to help them. That is what networking is about. Networking is not about meeting as many people as possible and getting them your business card. I went to a networking event this past week and a guy overheard my name in a conversation and then preceeded with "Hi Tom my name is so-and-so and I do whatever so if you know any who needs this service then BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!". He had no idea about networking. I am only going to refer people whom I know and trust to take care of the person I send them to. True networking is about relationships! And relationships take time and effort. There's an old saying that "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Boy is that the essence of networking. In your networking, if you get to know others and honestly try to fing a way to help them, then others will help you as well.

I read a description of HELL one time (though I don't remember the author) as everyone sitting at a banquet table with the finest of food in great abundance in front of them. However everyone is starving because they have a 3 foot fork and knife strapped to each arm and they couldn't get the food that was right in front of them. If they had just used their long utensils to feed the person across the table from them, then everyone would have been fed. If they had only used their resources to help someone else, then they would have also received what they needed. How sad.

Try to keep your networking from getting to that point!

Next time "The Plan Of Attack"

Until them,

Tom Matula

"The Scary Haystack”

Looking for a career through networking is like looking for a needle in a haystack. That’s bad enough. However, when you realize that not every haystack will contain the right career and that you may have to search a lot of haystacks, the problem will be intensified. The proverbial haystack is a scary place to be for an introvert or anyone else who is now (after many years of employment) forced to find their way to a new career.   When I was first told that I needed to get out there and start networking, it sent chills up my spine.  The thought of going to places where a room full of people are gathered whom I don’t know and talking to them or calling people I’ve never met and asking them for a meeting, is very overwhelming.

Some of the many questions that went flashing through my mind like; “What would I say”  or “What would I talk about”, “Would I sound stupid?”, “Would I trip over my own tongue”, “Would I embarrass myself, “Why would they want to talk to me?” and   “Would they think I’m an idiot?”.  Then there are the feelings that I would feel as well such as; This is very uncomfortable, or Do I sound fake?, or I feel like I sound fake,  or Are they wondering why the heck they are talking to me?, or How am I supposed to sound intelligent and be articulate when I feel nervous and brain-dead?.

WOW! When you think about it, that’s a lot of very self-defeating baggage to carry into a networking situation. But often, it’s all we know. We’ve never been taught any other way. However, through a step-by-step process of gaining one little success after another, you can build confidence. You may never free yourself from all of these feelings, but you can learn ways to lessen their effects.

The method of searching that I’m teaching is based on Two Overwhelming Facts that at this time;

   1) 70% of jobs are found through networking, yet only 30% of people choose this method  to     search!

   2) A large percentage of the posted positions either do not exist, or have already been filled!

I’ve been told that very few people have the confidence to career search using this method. I agree! I too was skeptical at first. The thought of coming out of my shell or expanding my comfort zone was scary.  It is much easier to view some listings on the internet and post a resume from the safety, security and comfort of my home.  If you do miraculously get a call back from one of these postings, you will still have to go through the screening, interview, call back and negotiation processes. All of which are just as scary. I’m not advocating that you abandon this method, By all means continue it, it can payoff. What I am saying is that I don’t believe in luck. I also don’t believe in waiting. As Zig Ziglar said “Don’t just strike while the iron’s hot, make the iron hot by striking”. The one beautiful thing that can occur by this method is that you can possibly avoid the interview process altogether. Now wouldn’t that be great!

Next Time:   "Inside The Haystack"

Until then,

Tom Matula

"No Contacts, No Problem"

When I moved to the area, I knew no one in the industry that I was choosing to get into. I had no business contacts of any kind. No one that is, except my career advisor. So if any of you fellow introverts who live here and are using this as an excuse, Don't.  Actually you can use the same approach except just don't say that you just moved to the area as I did.  Especially if you didn't.  A very good friend of mine commented that I was starting in a very disadvantaged position in which to attempt this career move. Starting a netwoek from scratch. So you would think that this would be the most difficult of all situations, right!  Not Really.  In all actuality, I feel it's the easiest situation.

Let me explain. I started out with a top 25 list from the Book of Lists of companies in my prospective industry. It is a lot easier to request advice and information about the industry as it exists here, since I honestly don't know.  Also there are networking organizations and opportunities in every city. There are many networking Breakfast, Lunches and Happy Hours for you to chose from. You just have to check them out to determine the ones that will best suite you.  Not all of them will fit your needs.  I also joined the industry professional organizations that exist here.  This is a great way to meet the CEO/Hiring Manager in your target industry face-to-face.  It is harder for them to escape or avoid you when you ask them for the opportunity for a brief meeting  to gain there advice.

In the beginning you will feel like an outsider. Especially when you enter a Haystack.  Yet before you know it, as you begin to meet new people and grow your network, you will start to feel like you are a part of the buzz that's happening around you.  As you fellow introverts know, this is very important to us.  All you need to do is to get a few successes under your belt to gain a little confidence.

Here are some steps to begin:

  1) Start with a list of companies that you are interested in or possibly interested in.

  2) Get registered with Linked In at linkedin.com (and use it, it can work)

  3) Either join or go as a guest to any industry professional organization meetings in your area

  4) Check out the networking groups and opportunities in your city. They are there.

  5)  Don't be affraid to talk to anyone about your campaign. You never know who they may know.

Do this and you'll be on your way to building your network.

Coming up next time: "The Scary Haystack"

Until then,

Tom Matula