The statistics on job hunting success are pretty one-sided. More than 65-70% of new jobs are found in some part through successful ‘networking’ and not through internet job searching sites. And, one of the more amazing observations of successful networking people is that you never know which contact will lead you to a new job. No matter how brief or unexpected the contact, each networking opportunity can be the one that lands you a new career.
Let me tell you about one of my unexpected networking adventures that is taking me a long way; as a matter of fact, it is taking me nationwide courtesy of CBS television.
I am a manufacturing professional who has been unemployed for over a year after being downsized from within the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. One of the first and best recommendations that I received from friends and professionals concerning the job hunting process was to tell everybody and anybody that I was looking for a new job. The more people that know, the better for you. So that’s what I have done. Family, friends, professional contacts, and networking groups all know that I am out there looking. In this particular story, it is important to note that my neighbor’s daughter also knew.
One day in June of 2008, I was working at home at my computer when I received a call from my neighbor’s daughter, Lindsey. She was a junior at Marist College doing a summer internship with CBS television in NYC. CBS was thinking about doing a story on ordinary people that were trying to find new jobs during challenging economic times. She wondered if I would be interested in participating in the story. My answer was an immediate and emphatic yes. So, I sent my resume and a few photographs to Lindsey and then things went quiet for a while. I just figured that the opportunity had passed.
Then in January 2009, I received an email from Audrey, a wonderful producer from CBS. She was checking to see if I was still interested in being part of this story. Again, I said yes and I am very pleased to report that it has been quite an adventure. CBS has followed my daily job hunting activities and offered assistance in various areas of the process.
The CBS Early Show has provided me several valuable job hunting resources to include one-on-one counseling sessions at my home with:
· career counselor – Lisa Panarello
o Learned valuable techniques to improve resumes, interviewing and resource planning.
· financial planner – Nick Nicolette CFP
o Learned about “overall” financial planning. Think about running a household in terms of running a business
· image consultant – Lisa Johnson Mandell
o Update your look and your outlook. Positive energy is a good thing.
Honestly, the most fun that I have had involved reinventing me. In support of this activity, several packages of clothing were delivered to my house by Zappos, a terrific online retailer big on customer service. It was like Christmas and my birthday combined. Lisa Johnson Mandell ran my own little fashion show in the foyer of my house with the cameras running and my wife and daughter looking on. There is nothing like the love of a good woman and the feel of a good suit.
The CBS Early Show (channel 2 in New York) is presenting my story on March 24, 2009 somewhere around 8:00am. There are supposed to be 4 to 5 minutes of video followed by 2 minutes of live conversation with Harry Smith. Additionally, information on my job hunt story will be posted on the Early Show Job Squad website.
Now let’s be clear here; not everyone is going to be able to develop a networking opportunity just like this. However, there are many surprising success stories out there where people get jobs through unexpected contacts. These stories will come up in everyday conversations if you just talk to people.
I hope my story offers some helpful ideas if you are also out there searching. It’s an understatement to say that being unemployed can be stressful for you and your loved ones. Just remember, do not go it alone. Reach out to your network. There are a lot of people that are willing to help because they have been where you are now.
I expect to have a few new doors open thanks to the CBS Early Show story and that has happened only because of some unexpected networking. That new job is just out there waiting for me to find it. Good hunting to us all.
