Step 17 of 21: How to Tactfully Network and Alert Your Personal Network About Your Job Search Artwork

The FlexJobs Podcast: Career Advice & Job Search Tips

Remote job search tips and career advice from FlexJobs.FlexJobs is a job board highlighting only the best remote, hybrid, and flexible schedule jobs ranging from entry-level to executive, freelance to full-time, and local to global. Our team of trained researchers hand-screens every job listing to ensure legitimacy.In 2007, FlexJobs founder and CEO - Sara Sutton - was looking for something better after losing her full-time job. She was already seven months pregnant with her first child and needed something that was going to be flexible but still help further her career. That’s when the idea for FlexJobs came: A site where job seekers could find professional-level work-from-home jobs, without the ads, scams or junk found on other sites.Subscribe to this podcast to get inside tips from our career experts on how to find and land a remote job. FlexJobs - Find A Better Way To Work. https://www.flexjobs.com/

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The FlexJobs Podcast: Career Advice & Job Search Tips

Step 17 of 21: How to Tactfully Network and Alert Your Personal Network About Your Job Search

August 17, 2023 • FlexJobs • Season 2 • Episode 17

In step 17, we explore the strategic ways to leverage your personal network during your job search. Alerting your network about your job search can lead to valuable advice, insights about potential opportunities, and connections within targeted companies. We discuss how to approach notifying your network depending on your current employment situation, providing tips on contacting trusted individuals while maintaining confidentiality. When reaching out, it's essential to clearly communicate your career goals, transferable skills, and accomplishments to show that you've thoughtfully considered your new direction. We also emphasize the importance of being respectful of their time and managing expectations while maintaining a reciprocal and appreciative approach to networking.

Important Link:
• Networking Emails That Activate and Engage Your Connections: https://bit.ly/44QXJMX

FlexJobs is a subscription service for job seekers that features flexible and remote jobs. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.7 rating from over 10,000 reviews, FlexJobs ensures that customers have a safe and positive remote job searching experience - without the ads, scams and junk found on other job sites.

FlexJobs | Find A Better Way To Work

Welcome to step 17! It’s time to explore very tactfully ways to leverage your network to help with your job search. There are multiple benefits for notifying your network that you are currently in the market for a new opportunity.

You could receive some valuable advice or feedback regarding your job search strategies or application materials.
You may uncover insights or suggestions about positions, contacts, or companies to target as a lead or possible job opening.
You might discover connections within organizations that you are targeting, potentially gaining valuable “inside information” about the role or company.

As you begin, consider your current employment situation, as that could impact your approach. In other words, alerting your network can often be easier if you are currently not working, since you won’t need to be concerned that your current employer will find out that you are searching. If this describes your situation, you might consider notifying your network more broadly by making a post on LinkedIn, or sending out emails or messages to large segments of your network.

If you ARE currently employed, you want to consider how you will strategically notify select members of your network that you are searching, making sure that you are only contacting people that you trust to maintain your confidentiality. Either way, when you are contacting people in your network, there are a few key points to keep in mind.

What is it you are seeking? What is your end goal? Be sure to develop as much clarity as possible before you begin to reach out to your network.

Avoid saying something such as, “I’ve been an English teacher my entire career and now I want to be a mechanical engineer – please help me!” Show that you have put thought into your new career goals and how you are planning to achieve them, analyzed your transferable skills as they relate to your goals, and clearly communicate what you bring to the table and how your skills will fit into this new field.

Also, be prepared with specific examples of the functions you have done, the skills you possess, and the accomplishments you have achieved. Be ready to discuss how they relate to your new field of interest. Being clear in your communication about these areas can help your contact with pertinent information about you, should they reach out to someone in their network about what a great candidate you are.

Remember to be respectful of their time and manage your own expectations in terms of what you hope to gain from them. Make them aware of your job search and ask if they have suggestions regarding companies to target or an opportunity to pursue, being careful to find balance between asking for assistance, without pressure or asking too much from them, especially if this is an individual that you haven’t spoken with in a long time.

Additionally, if they don’t respond to your request, perhaps try one more follow-up, and if there is still no response, be prepared to let it go. If they respond and say they can’t help you, let them know that you understand and appreciate their response.

When you do have a favorable response from someone within your network, be sure to show your genuine appreciation and a willingness to help them in the future, should they ever need your assistance. Also, as a nice touch, send a personalized thank you note, or maybe offer to take them out for lunch or coffee the next time you’re in the same area. It’s important to remember that networking is reciprocal and is as much about helping others as it is about receiving help!