Do you know about the hidden job market?
Well it is out there. There are jobs to be had out there, not like there used to be, but they do exist. You just need to be a bit savvy these days as to how to find out about them. There are two terms which most people have heard at one point or another: Networking and Informational Interviewing but often are unsure as to what they are.
Today, we will cover networking and if you are looking for a new job or are in transition the best way to find out about what is out there is to “network.” What does that mean? To figure out your network, put together a list of everyone you know that you have worked with in the past 10 years, friends, family, colleagues, vendors, etc. Go through your collection of old business cards, e-mails, and phone book(s) and add those in too. This is your network. The next step is finding ways to reach out and connect with them that comes off sincere and natural.
San Diego is a unique place on the map. Aside from the near perfect year-around weather, it is home to an extremely diverse city and county in terms of people as well as a diverse range of corporations and organizations of every stripe.
San Diego is as much a military town as it is a hub for health care-related companies, green technology, media production and so much more. So where does one go to learn more about what is happening here? Start by reaching out to friends, colleagues (former as well), social media is a great way to do this, or by attending networking and/or business events in and around the county.
One great place to start to get yourself out there is to attend events and organizations such as: networkinginsandiego.com.
There are many great resources and networking groups in San Diego that will be covered here in the coming weeks.
The important thing is to put yourself out there, meet as many people as you can and follow up with those who you believe would make for strong leads in building your professional network. Also, if you have not yet put the latest version of your resume on LinkedIn.com, now is the time to do so. This is the professional-life version of Facebook and it has vast resources, information, professional groups, job listings and more.
When networking you want to be a resource to others as much as they can be for you. It is all about helping others get connected and to open doors to future business opportunities and/or professional collaborations.
The economy here has had it’s challenges as have most other parts of the country, but it is times like these where we need to come together to build a stronger economy and this vastly wonderful community.