This time of social distancing and remote work is an ideal opportunity to build your professional network. Just because you aren’t able to meet face-to-face and shake hands, doesn’t mean networking isn’t just as valuable.
Now more than ever people are checking social media and online entertaining but they are also spending more time on networking platforms.
Here are my top 3 tips:
1. Choose the social networking platform most suitable to your job interests
2. Use hashtags to search for posts and comments focused on the areas you want to network in
3. Be constructive and positive in your comments and interactions on the platform – remember that the person you are interacting with could be your next potential employer!
It is also helpful to forge connections and reconnect with people during this time of social isolation and distancing. On the networking platform of your choice, identify a few contacts that you feel would help in your job search. Thoroughly research their profiles and previous posts and comments and interact with them regularly.
Set aside a specific time each day or week to foster these new relationships through commenting regularly, asking questions and being a positive online presence. You can also re-evaluate your existing contact list and set aside time to reconnect with others you may have lost touch with, but could be helpful in your networking and job searching.
Finally, in order to set yourself apart from the rest of the masses who are simply blanket-applying to job postings, make it a habit to do these 3 items for each job search.
1. Qualify the job search posting with your skill set.
2. Quickly upgrade any skills you deem necessary from the job posting. There are many online free and low cost courses available now to help with remote job opportunities and upgrading skill sets. Many skills may take very little time to research and master and right now you will never have more time to invest in. And finally…
3. Be prepared to be very responsive to potential employer emails, phone calls, and requests; be flexible in interview scheduling, and prepared in remote interviewing scenarios.
Social distancing may be a challenge now in many areas of traditional businesses, but it doesn’t have to be in the networking arena. You can strengthen and grow your networking contacts just as easily in this new environment as when you were able to meet at the corner coffee shop.
If you’d like some help in remaking your resume, optimizing your LinkedIn profile, and get noticed by companies, get in touch with me – The guy who’s been reading your resume for 20 years!
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