Comments on: Passive career searching… http://www.danhocking.com/2008/12/passive-career-searching/ Opinions on... just about everything. Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:42:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dan Hocking »  How are YOU looking for a new job? http://www.danhocking.com/2008/12/passive-career-searching/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Dan Hocking »  How are YOU looking for a new job? Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:42:41 +0000 http://www.danhocking.com/?p=23#comment-28 [...] Thirdly, you need to particpate actively in your relevant industry communities. This is the big advantage that social media offers with this. Although Katrina and I disagree on this point, I believe that you can’t just be approaching people in your desired area of work, introducing yourself, and immediately asking what they have available. You need to establish a genuine relationship with them. In a way, it’s like selling yourself as a product - if you’re too aggressive you come off as pushy or desperate. By forming these relationships, you never really know what may come your way in the future. I wrote more about this here. [...] [...] Thirdly, you need to particpate actively in your relevant industry communities. This is the big advantage that social media offers with this. Although Katrina and I disagree on this point, I believe that you can’t just be approaching people in your desired area of work, introducing yourself, and immediately asking what they have available. You need to establish a genuine relationship with them. In a way, it’s like selling yourself as a product – if you’re too aggressive you come off as pushy or desperate. By forming these relationships, you never really know what may come your way in the future. I wrote more about this here. [...]

]]> By: Tom http://www.danhocking.com/2008/12/passive-career-searching/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Tom Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:36:45 +0000 http://www.danhocking.com/?p=23#comment-14 I think you can control the extent to which you come off as "desperate" (depending on your social skills) while still clearly indicating your desire for a job right up front. I don't think it's a bad thing to leave somebody thinking "that's a motivated guy who wants a job in the field, and boy does he know his stuff" if the alternative is "that's a motivated guy, and boy does he know his stuff". How do you do that? Well, you're the expert. I think you can control the extent to which you come off as “desperate” (depending on your social skills) while still clearly indicating your desire for a job right up front. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to leave somebody thinking “that’s a motivated guy who wants a job in the field, and boy does he know his stuff” if the alternative is “that’s a motivated guy, and boy does he know his stuff”.

How do you do that? Well, you’re the expert.

]]> By: Dan http://www.danhocking.com/2008/12/passive-career-searching/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Dan Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:44:42 +0000 http://www.danhocking.com/?p=23#comment-12 Katrina: thanks for your comment! My question to you regarding this would be as follows: what's your success rate with that in gaining relationships? By being blunt, you risk "offending" the person, or offering a first impression that you may not have intended - desperate, etc. Thoughts? Katrina: thanks for your comment! My question to you regarding this would be as follows: what’s your success rate with that in gaining relationships? By being blunt, you risk “offending” the person, or offering a first impression that you may not have intended – desperate, etc. Thoughts?

]]> By: Katrina McKay http://www.danhocking.com/2008/12/passive-career-searching/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Katrina McKay Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:09:56 +0000 http://www.danhocking.com/?p=23#comment-11 Hey Dan, Interesting post, but I don't agree that you have to be that passive. I've had great conversations that have basically started with "Hi, I'm Katrina. Pleased to meet you. I'm wondering if your company happens to be hiring?" Okay, so maybe I'm not quite that blunt, but pretty close! I think the key is to make sure that regardless of whether or not your contact is able to help you move forward, you need to forge a relationship, and above all remember that networking is about give and take -- not just take! Great post. Katrina Hey Dan,

Interesting post, but I don’t agree that you have to be that passive. I’ve had great conversations that have basically started with “Hi, I’m Katrina. Pleased to meet you. I’m wondering if your company happens to be hiring?” Okay, so maybe I’m not quite that blunt, but pretty close! I think the key is to make sure that regardless of whether or not your contact is able to help you move forward, you need to forge a relationship, and above all remember that networking is about give and take — not just take!

Great post.

Katrina

]]>