Connections
Groups free membership in Central Florida's largest business networking
and social organization with chapters in Orlando Tampa Bay and Brevard
Titusville & Cocoa
 |
|
| Sponsors: |
Main Page
Join
Members
Events
Videos
Blogs
Twitter
Advertise |
Sponsors: |
|
|
|
|
Orlando
Tampa Bay
Brevard
Connections
Groups
is Central
Florida's largest
business
networking and
social
organization
15,000 members
Join
now and
create
your own member
profile,
advertise your
business
and
promote your
events
It's
all FREE!
|
www.HealthyConnections.MyQivana.com
The Connections
Groups is supported by Corporate Sponsors and
by income from various
business tools. Poke around... learn more.
Questions?: Call
Sue @ 407-443-0348
email: sc (at)
connectionsgroups.com
|
. . ..
I got FIVE pairs last time to match every outfit. Great quality & service ...Sue , ,
|
12940
Downstream Circle, Orlando, FL
407-275-2956
Old fashioned Networking is
THE New-Fangled Career Booster
… Employed and unemployed
alike are rediscovering the benefits of getting out and shaking hands.
In an uncertain economy and
job market, an old fashioned strategy still reigns supreme, as more and
more professionals are going back to the basics by just getting out
there and meeting people.
“You hear a lot about ‘web
2.0.’ social media, twitter, facebook, linked in, and other online
resources,” says Karen Battoe, an Orlando, FL area career/success coach
and host of the radio show “Career Advice Plus.” “Certainly these
resources can be a valuable tool. But nothing beats shaking hands and
meeting people face to face when it comes to a job search.”
Entrepreneur.com reported in a
recent study that referrals make up 70% of new business, so why should
it be that much different when it comes to the job market and the
career world? After all, it's all about "selling," that is, selling
yourself, your skills, your talent.
In this economy there is a lot
of job uncertainty for everyone. According to an Associated Press poll,
more than 50% of American’s are worried about losing their jobs.
There are steps, though, that
you can take to decrease your chances of being laid off and to increase
your chance of finding a new job faster, if the worst should happen.
Networking.
If you are currently employed,
the best way to solidify your position in the company is to increase
your value to the company. Just because someone is not in the “sales
and marketing” area doesn’t mean they can’t get out there and bring in
leads for new business.
When I was younger and worked
in an administrative position in Clearwater, FL I would attend Chamber
of Commerce events because I enjoyed socializing. Of course I would
generally get 2-3 good leads for my company and I would then turn those
over to the Sales Manager for follow up. This eventually led to the
company expanding my role to include part time sales and I earned the
right to make commissions on top of my salary.
There’s an old saying in
business… “You’ll never get paid more for what you do, until you do
more than what you get paid for.”
Think about it from this
angle… Pretend you are a manager that’s been told you need to lay off a
position in the company to reduce payroll. If you have three people
that are candidates for dismissal, and one of those people has been
bringing in leads and business for the company, making your own job
more secure, ...which one of these folks would you be sure to KEEP?
Many companies are struggling right now and being seen as a “team
player” who is going the extra mile to generate revenue is a very, very
smart move.
Another perk to “networking”
is that, in these times of salary freezes, being seen as a “rainmaker”
for your company allows them to justify making an exception for you and
gives you leverage during the salary/review process.
But what if you have lost your
job already? Answer: Networking, networking and more networking.
“When I’m coaching people
about their careers, or a job loss, I sometimes have to ask them… ‘how
bad do you want this?’ ..says Karen Battoe. “Psychologically, the
biggest fears that most people have are… fear of change, fear of
rejection and fear of the unknown. Unfortunately the nature of being
unemployed encompasses all three of these fears and can keep people
glued to the couch or hiding out in their “caves.” It’s imperative that
people quit doing the same things over and over again that are NOT
working and start doing something different; using the creative side of
their brain and getting out of their comfort zone.”
When it comes to the job
search there can be hundreds or thousands of applicants lined up at the
door trying to get in. If you are creative you can beat them to the
punch by going around back and climbing in a window. Not literally, of
course, but metaphorically.
I recently met 3 unemployed
management professionals at a networking event that showed up armed
with business cards and resumes. There is no stigma to being
unemployed, and folks will want to help you.
Networking, and participation
in leads groups, has been shown to cut the search time for a new job by
30%, on average. So get out there and attend networking events, find
out what people do, who they know, and be clear about your situation,
your skills and what you are looking for. Ask people if they know of a
company that could be a good fit for you. Follow up after to chat with
them more. It’s a “Kevin Bacon world” – everyone knows people, who know
other people.
Being “referred” into a job
greatly increases your chances of landing that job because, often, you
will be talking to the company before they have even advertised the
position (no “line at the door.”) They have a great incentive to hire
you before going to that expense. Time is money too, and they avoid the
necessity of interviewing dozens of applicants, a process that can
literally cost them thousands more dollars in management man-hours.
Financially you are also
advantaged here. If you are referred into a job you automatically have
a higher perceived value than someone that responded to an ad, hat in
hand, meaning that you are likely to be offered, or can more
successfully negotiate, the higher end of the salary range. Since all
raises and bonuses are typically percentages of your current salary,
going in at a higher range can result in tens of thousands, or hundreds
of thousands, more dollars over the course of your career.
And, when it comes to the “big
3” fears: fear of change, rejection, and the unknown, being referred to
a job greatly reduces the last two, making you feel more comfortable
and boosting your confidence level.
Networking need not take place
only at official networking events. You meet people everywhere and you
can seek them out. … be chatty and friendly with people. That person in
line behind you at the bank might be married to the CEO of a company
that is looking for someone just like you. People love to help other
people… just give them a chance to do that for you.
Look to meet the CEO’s, owners
and executive’s of companies in places where they hang out. Golf
courses and private business clubs, such as the Citrus Club in downtown
Orlando, offer the opportunity to socialize with the very people you
would have difficulty meeting if you were trying to go through their
secretary.
Want a real “edge?” Pick up
the phone and just call. Remember that, if a particular company is
hiring, it could be because their entire industry is doing well. So
don’t just respond to their ad… go approach their competitors. You
might just hit them at the right moment, or they may be able to refer
you to someone else they know.
Recently a friend had success
doing just that. She applied for an advertised job but found they had
just offered the job to someone else that day. She then called several
other businesses just like them and, sure enough, one was just about to
post an open position. She got hired immediately.
And finally… start networking
NOW. You might feel very secure in your current position, but don’t you
think that many of the thousands of people who have been laid off in
the last year also felt secure in their job the day before they got the
axe? Networking has been shown to cut as much as 30% off the average
time to get re-employed. So start building your network of contacts and
connections now. Having a “Plan B” in place will make you feel so much
more confident about the future and, let’s face it, you might just
stumble upon your next big “dream” job or an opportunity to launch that
business you've always wanted to do. Your "Plan B" doesn't have to be
about finding another job. Many people are realizing it's an excellent
time to start a part time business. A second income provides a
financial cushion now, and gives you a fall back position if needed.
TOP TEN TIPS: To learn some
Networking strategies and tips from Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI -
Business Network International (the largest business networking group
in the world), click for the BLOG.
To upgrade your skill sets and
make yourself a more valualbe commodity, check out
http://www.iLearningGlobal.biz/Connections which provides continual
learning 24/7 from some of the top trainers and speakers in the world,
such as Brian Tracy, Jay Abraham, T Harv Eker, Mark Victor Hansen,
Sandy Botkin and more.
For more information on
networking and leads group in Central Florida, Tampa Bay Orlando and
Brevard, visit http://www.ConnectionsGroups.ning.com
About the author: Sue Copening
is a public speaker, entrepreneur and founder of Connections Groups,
the largest business networking and social organization in Orlando and
Central Florida. Sue Copening is a Branch Manager
with United First Financial
Connections groups has members
in Tampa bay, Orlando, Brevard, Titusville, St Petersburg, Winter Park,
Longwood, Sanford, Deland, Lake Mary, Celebration, Dunedin, Clearwater,
Brandon, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Largo and we are similar to BNI FNI
sosocial sobiz and other business networking and social organizations
free membership