How are dating and searching for a job the same? Pt 2

by Allison Kapner

… Continued from my last blog post.

Step 1: Finding the date, finding the Job….What’s the Difference? NOTHING!

My last blog examined some of the different media outlets for job and mate searching. We continue that discussion below with other sourcing techniques used.

Networking

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hikingartist/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Your Personal Networks
The best way to land a job (or a man or woman) is through friends, colleagues, family and people you know. Network, network, network. If you’re looking for a job, tell people you know and trust. (The trust part is important if you already have a job and don’t want your employer to know you’re looking.) Likewise, if you’re single, make it known you’re open to dating. Don’t act desperate, but realize that you never know who people know or what other circles they run in.

If you do make a connection – job or personal – through your network, manage the process wisely: Make sure that you remove the person who set you up. You don’t want it to be awkward for the middle-man if things don’t work out. I’ve gone out with many friends of friends, colleagues of friends, etc. and I’ve never ruined a friendship. The same goes for job searching. If your uncle sets you up with a company that you end up not liking, remain professional and leave things on a positive note.

And if you’re the connector: Make the intro and then REMOVE yourself. Otherwise it will backfire. I guarantee it.

Happy Hour and the “scene”
More often than not, when you go to happy hour you will meet like-people that can help you for dating and job hunting. (It’s foolish to approach a happy hour – and happy hour – as merely a social situation.) Take advantage of this. Again, you never know who someone’s network is. Plus, many bars have specials, so it can be easy on your wallet. How can you use this to your advantage in your job search? Find out where the company you want to work for is located. Chances are the neighborhood bar is their after work spot. Make it yours as well.

The more obvious happy hour – job search connection are the myriad of professional networking events (as well as social meet ups and groups) that happen every day. Take advantage of people looking for the same things as you!

When you’re starting to feel down, you MUST remember for both, it’s all about…

….Timing
When all else fails, just remind yourself, it’s all about timing. Being in the right place at the right time when the other person/people are in the right place at the right time can and will change your life both personally and professionally.

…Believing
The second you feel defeated in your job search (or dating), you’re not setting yourself up for the next best thing. Keeping the optimism and faith that it will work out will be your strength when it seems that you’ll never get the call for the interview… or find that perfect mate. You must believe they will both come (see timing).

…Smiling
A smile says a gazillion words and can be all it takes to secure your next move.

Allison Kapner is a Relationship Manager in Career Services at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School where she is responsible for building partnerships with employers to ultimately create job and internship opportunities for students and alumni. She also advises and coaches students on job search techniques and brings a unique corporate expertise to assist candidates, as her past experience was as an Executive Recruiter in financial services in New York City.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 22nd, 2010 at 8:51 am and is filed under Allison Kapner, Dating, Job Search, WhatsNextGenY. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.


You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.