It is true that not many companies will hire you as a graphic artist if you simply send a resume outlining your ten-year career in tax accounting! Even the best resume cannot hide the fact that your previous work experience has not qualified you for the position you seek.
Become software defined networking a good resource. When others feel that you are knowledgeable in your industry or field, they will come to you for advice and/or a request for services. Don’t you feel more comfortable doing business with someone you feel is an expert in their field?
It is often said that only 30% (or 20%, or even 10%, depending who you talk to) of jobs are advertised. All the rest are filled by word-of-mouth: networking. There is no definitive study to prove this statistic and it may be well wide of reality, but there is no doubt that networking does work for some people.
Now there are certain things that you shouldn’t outsource when it comes to social networking sites and we’ll talk more about that in my next article “How To Outsource Your Social Networking…The RIGHT Way” For now, just keep in mind that anything that involves talking to people in your network needs to be done by you and you only. You could be missing a ton of new business opportunities if you’re not connecting with the people in your social networking groups on some level. A virtual assistant is great for setting up your account profile, adding photos, articles, and status updates too. They’ll do an excellent job of keeping your account “active” but it’s still up to you to be sociable.
Choose a networking group based on the type of people you want to meet. Who are your best prospects–business owners, HR professionals, writers, nurses, lawyers? Participate in groups catering to them.
Think about a time when you needed to make a new connection, say, to a reliable auto mechanic. You may have started out by scanning the yellow pages only to realize that there’s no way to know who’s honest and competent. What do you do then? You do what everyone does: they turn to friends, family and acquaintances for a personal recommendation. If the first person you ask can’t offer you a good referral, he or she may know someone who can, and if not, you move on to the next person on your list, and the next. Pretty soon you make the connection you were looking for…even without your set of official networking tips for millennials!
3) Don’t be shy – ask for the referral. People are usually happy to help – and the worst they can say is no. Remember… nothing ventured, nothing gained. Ask for that letter of recommendation or testimonial. Have a list of names handy to write in the “referrals” spot of your job applications – and be sure to keep their phone numbers and email addresses up to date and on file.
A key step to overcoming shyness is preparation and practice. Write down in advance some questions you think will stimulate and sustain a conversation. If you find yourself somewhat nervous when meeting someone new, try practicing what you are going to say with another person or even to yourself in the mirror. Then practice in an environment where you won’t feel intimidated. Role-play with someone you feel comfortable with. This way, when you feel unsure of yourself, you will still have an idea of what you want to say and how you are going to say it. You may even want to write out some questions on 3×5 cards and read them before you attend the meeting or event.
Join MeetUp.Com groups that are related to your industry. You can meet many like-minded individuals who could be potential clients or possible partners with a joint venture.
The bottom line is that the more you network or meet others, the more confident you will become. In turn, the more confident you feel, the less shyness will be in your way. And the closer your dreams and goals will be to becoming reality.