The Morning Blend: The Power of Connections!

For quite a while now you have heard me trumpet the power of personal connections as the key element in finding your perfect job. You have been told about the wonderful things that can happen when you make face to face contact with someone and establish a relationship of trust with them.  You now know that this new partnership often leads to positive effects on decision makers who are influenced by your “champion” on the inside of the company.

Well of that is fine and it sounds great but does it ever happen in real life? YES it does and today I want to share a recent story with you that involves many moving parts, but one final result – someone getting the offer for their perfect job!

Gary is a super networker – not just an above average networker, I mean he’s an unbelievable networking machine. He goes to dozens of networking events, industry specific luncheons, and job seeker meet up gatherings. He loves talking to people and learning about them. All the while, Gary is looking for his next great employment opportunity and has for several months now. Gary always has a smile and even more always has a suggestion, a tip, or a recommendation for someone he meets at a networking function. He does not glad-hand everyone in the room, he has 3-4 meaningful conversations over a 2 hour period and makes solid, long-lasting relationships with those he comes into contact with.

Christy has just moved to the area with a job that she now knows is not close to what was promised to her. She is unhappy and is looking for her next great opportunity as well. Christy is a great networker and she decides to attend a networking event at a popular restaurant to try and make contacts for finding a new job.

As fate would have it, Christy bumps into Gary at the networking event and they strike up a conversation. Gary’s background is finance and Christy in advertising sales. On the surface they have very little in common. However, within 20-30 minutes they learn more about each other’s background and job desires, they exchange cards, and each promises to “keep their eyes open” for any good job leads.

Sound familiar? Heard that one before? You probably have but this chance meeting didn’t end with a half hour conversation because Super Networker Gary was involved. Gary remembers that another contact he met at a job seeker workshop, one of the facilitators, is a manager in sales for a local TV station. When Gary gets home after the networking meeting, he shoots the TV sales manager a note and tells him he has met someone looking for a job in the industry and if he hears of anything opening up soon to please let him know.

For most of us, that would have been enough – I told her I’d try and I sent an email – okay, I’m done… Gary took it one step further – at the next job seeker workshop, he made a beeline for the TV sales manager and told him in person about the impressive person he met who’s looking for a job in ad sales. He tells the TV guy that he’s going to forward her email address to him and Gary implores the TV guy to spend a few minutes in person with Christy.

The next day the TV sales manager emails Christy and sets up a lunch meeting. The two meet in a day or so for lunch and an hour turns into almost 2 hours of lively discussion and story swapping about the broadcast business. The TV guy tells Christy that he doesn’t have a position open but that he’s well connected in the business and the market and that he will do his best to help her find a good gig.

A few weeks pass, and the TV guy’s counterpart on a sister TV station annouces that one of his sales folks is leaving, creating a sales opening. The TV guy immediately emails Christy and asks if she’s interested in pursuing the position. She responds quickly with a loud YES! and the TV guy hand delivers Christy’s resume to the other TV sales manager.

Christy goes through the interview process and within in a few weeks is offered a terrific job on the sister station. She is thrilled and thanks the TV guy for the assist in getting her in the door and into her perfect job!

In fact, this “bank shot” method of finding a position happens all the time. I just happen to know this example very well because I’m the TV guy in the story. Without the efforts of Christy and Gary actively networking, none of this happy ending story would have happened. Christy got involved and was able to make a connection that lead to another connection that lead to a third connection that eventually offered her a fantastic job.

Are you really “working” your network? If so, your story could end just like Christy’s. But the key word in networking is WORK – you have to put in the Energy and Effort to get results like this one. Christy has her perfect job and your’s is out there. Make sure you surround yourself with an active, vibrant, growing network and look for “super networkers” like Gary. It only takes one meeting to start the dominoes falling in your favor. Go out and make it happen!

If I can help you in any way to grow your network or help with networking advice, don’t hesitate to ask!

Sincerely,

Brad Raney

brad@improveyourvowels.com

Brad Raney is a motivational speaker, life coach, author and sales trainer. He has over 25 years of experience in sales and sales management within the broadcast industry. Brad developed the VOWELS program in 2009 and the success it brought his sales team has spurred keynote speeches, workshops, seminars, a website, and his first book “Improve Your VOWELS, Improve Your Career!” which was released in July 2010.

Click here to order “Improve Your Vowels, Improve Your Career! The A, E, I, O, U’s of Finding Your Perfect Job!” — Available Now!

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