Last week, he finally found a job. You may wonder what part of his research
yielded the precious information that led to his interview and subsequent
hiring. Was it Linked In, Facebook, The
Ladders, Twitter?
Actually, it was a baseball game.
Let me say that here in Chicago, going to a baseball game
can be a greater punishment than wearing out your eyes and fingers on a social
networking site. Nevertheless my friend
accepted an invitation to get out of the house and attend a game with a few
friends.
During the course of conversation with other guests at the
event, my friend mentioned his job search. One individual perked up and asked a
few questions. It turned he knew of a company
with an opportunity for someone with a similar background to my friend’s. That conversation
led to a phone interview within a few days of the game, followed by a
face-to-face interview resulting in a job offer the following week.
I often stress the importance of personal networking,
paraphrasing Zig Ziglar’s great line, “shy salesmen have skinny kids.” While online networking is important (and certainly
better than watching Seinfeld marathons every afternoon), open conversations
with friends, siblings, uncles, cousins, and former colleagues can often be
more productive in a job search. Never
underestimate the importance of your sister-in-law.
Be proactive in talking about your employment status, as
uncomfortable as it may make you feel, particularly when your job search has
been lengthy. Accept invitations. Initiate lunches. Meet someone for coffee. Go to ball games; even
if it’s a Cubs or White Sox game.
