Let People Know You're Looking!

We all know that networking is a crucial part of the job search. When you are actively seeking a new position, your network will be your fastest route to that new job. Whether you’ve been laid off, or are still working, letting people know you are open to a new position is important.
There are two reasons people I work with are hesitant to broadcast their openness to a new position. One is that they are currently working and are afraid their employer will discover they are looking, and fear retribution. While this can be a real fear, it’s not unusual for a company to make greater efforts to keep you if you are a valuable asset to their organization. Having said that though, there is reason to be discreet when seeking to leave a current job for a new one.

The second reason many people I’ve worked with hesitate to broadcast their situation is that they’ve been laid off from their job. In many people, this causes a sense of shame, and they are embarrassed to tell people what happened. However, having worked with many smart, talented, employable people who’ve lost their jobs due to corporate restructuring and no fault of their own, I can say with confidence that you needn’t be embarrassed. Some of the most sought after clients I’ve worked with were laid off. Potential employers merely saw this as a golden opportunity to secure great new talent!

So, whether you are cautiously looking for new employment, or you’ve been laid off and need to find a new job, the key to success is to share your job search with others. For those currently employed, sure, you need to be discreet. Start by talking to trusted colleagues and friends. Let them know you’re looking and what you’re looking for. They will be your biggest advocates. You don’t have to ask them to ‘help you get a new job’, but rather to keep their eyes open in case they see something. There is also a great new feature in LinkedIn that allows you let recruiters know you’re looking and LinkedIn will block that from your employer.

If you’re out of work for any reason, you don’t have restrictions on who to talk to. So share, share, share. The more people who know you and know you’re looking, the more people are on the lookout for you! It’s that old adage, if people don’t know you need help, they won’t know to offer it.

And, finally, this is the holiday season! I’ve long promoted the idea of using this time of year to network on behalf of your job search. Get yourself out to those holiday parties and other social events that pop up. Even if you just spend 30 minutes there talking to people, you’re getting your message out. People can’t help but help you if you only let them know.
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Best of luck!