Emily Worden • Next Act Career

“I've already reached out to everyone I know.”

I hear this from job seekers all the time. And I get it. You've contacted former coworkers, old bosses, and people in your industry. Some have been helpful, some haven't responded, and you're running out of ideas about who else to contact.

But there's another group of people I encourage my clients to think about:

Your connectors.

Those people in your life who seem to know absolutely everyone, either because they are quite social or they have jobs that require them to know a lot of people: 

• Your neighbor who's a real estate agent.

• Your friend who works in fundraising.

• The parent who runs the PTO.

• Your hairdresser who talks to people all day long.

They might not know anything about your industry. But you never know who they know, and their network can become your network. 

Think about it: Your neighbor might have a friend who works at a company on your target list. Your hairdresser might have a client who's hiring. You just don't know until you start having those conversations.

And here's something I emphasized in yesterday's Fall Lab networking workshop:

👏 The more specific you are about what you're looking for, the easier it is for people to help you. 👏

Instead of saying, “Let me know if you hear of anything,” try something like:

“I'm looking for marketing roles at healthcare or technology companies in Boston. Do you happen to know anyone at HubSpot, athenahealth, or similar companies who might be willing to talk with me?”

Now you've given them something concrete to think about.

Here's your homework: Think of three people outside your industry who seem to know everyone. Reach out to one this week.

Networking still feels like a lot of work?

Maybe you've sent dozens of messages and barely heard back. Maybe asking for help makes you uncomfortable. Or maybe you know networking matters, but you're not sure who to contact, what to say, or when to follow up.

That's why Deb and I created Networking That Actually Gets Done, our second Fall Lab workshop.

We walked you through finding the right people, writing messages that are easier to respond to, and building a networking routine that doesn't take over your life.

Missed the workshop yesterday? You can still purchase it and watch the replay whenever you're ready.

Our first workshop, Build Your Job Search System, is also available, and our next workshop, Interview Better Without Overpreparing, is November 10.

Explore Fall Lab Workshops

Join us Thursday, 10/29: Would YOU Hire You?

There's a pattern I've noticed with the job seekers I'm talking to: 

People don't have an experience problem. They have a positioning problem.

You've got the skills and experience, but your resume reads like a list of responsibilities, your LinkedIn profile doesn't make your value obvious, or you struggle to explain what makes you a strong candidate during interviews.

That can make an already difficult job search even more frustrating.

So this Thursday, 10/29, Deb and I are talking about how to better communicate your experience, explain your accomplishments, and help employers understand why they should hire you over anyone else. 

FREE LinkedIn Live: Would YOU Hire You?

Thursday, October 29 at 12 PM ET (Replay available)

Register for LinkedIn Live

Bring your questions! We'd love to have you join the conversation. Can't join us live? Register anyway and you'll get the instant replay. 

I'm rooting for you. 👊

Emily

Emily Worden