[Job] Networking really does work!

[bkdelong]

I know I make a lot of offers to people looking for jobs that I can use my professional/social network to help get their resume in front of a real person (e.g. ideally within 2 degrees or directly to the hiring manager) while it transverses the road of red tape within a company...

But as long as people remember the key to working with me (persistence/poking/reminding) then I do get it done and provide results.

Case in point - a friend was having a phone interview and noticed I knew a senior executive at the company he was interviewing at on LinkedIn, asking if I knew anything about the company.

I chose to send a recommendation of sorts straight to the Executive acquaintance despite not being strongly-familiar with this friend's work and here's the response I got:

"Thank you for this unsolicited reference! Those are the best kind,
and very insightful.

Yes, [Friend] had a phone interview at [Company] yesterday. It went well.
We'll set up the office interview for the near future. I didn't
interview him, and won't for a little while, but this is great to know
and I will forward it to the rest of the team."

I can't promised to not get overwhelmed with my own life....which has happened off and on over the last few months between the "Big Broadcast of 1938", family-life, and being down one car (never, ever thought it would be such an issue). Please be patient if I indicate that's the case.

But I will do what I can regardless of the industry and level of position to help friends and FOAFs get jobs in this current economy.

Comments

[dpolicar]

I don't need the service, and I'm not myself in a hiring position, but I just wanted to shout out some appreciation for playing the networking role.

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

Well, thank you. It's a skill and talent that is in great need right now.

raises hand

[cthulhia]

yes. would love references and recommendations.
currently applying to staples corp. & macmillan, but... haven't heard more than the bot-reply confirming they received my resume, but can't personally reply to every applicant. (I can offer names once I've heard back, if I do.)

Re: raises hand

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

Email me the job listings and I'll see what I can figure out/do. Names are VERY helpful once you hear back as I can then hone in on whether I am connected to them in any degree.

[brynndragon.livejournal.com]

It's really awesome that you can (and do!) do this for folks, but I'm wondering if you also have clue regarding a different sort of career networking. I won't be looking for an employer, but for patients ;).

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

Funny you mention that. I have less time for those activities but I build and foster virtual communities for a living....something that has allowed me to build a very large book fandom site and translate my experience from there to teaching other authors to foster their own fandoms and allowing them to grow.

I like to think I can offer the insight and intuition on how to build a good business that will bring in clients. I am decent at becoming a SME in a variety of areas through finding someone who will patiently answer my questions on the topic. That is usually enough for me to write a briefing or paper that communicates or translates well from one audience to another.

So what I'm saying not so articulately is that my time is limited but I'd be happy to try and sit down with you and brainstorm on how to build a business presence and atmosphere that will bring in patients whether directly or through word-of-mouth.

[brynndragon.livejournal.com]

*grin* That is really cool. I understand having limited time, which is why I wanted to get this ball rolling now - I won't even have my license until next August or September. Next semester I will be taking a course in business management (required for graduating from my program). Would you like to wait until I've done at least some of that class, or completed it?

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

We can chat off and on as we cross paths. I'm sure I'll see you at D&D again soon at some point. I'm always on IM during the day as well.

[chanel19.livejournal.com]

I'm totally counting on you to create my fan base should I ever manage to get published.

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

hehehe. No, you want that done by your most eager fan...not discounting that I won't be. You need to harness their energy and just do what Jo did...slowly over the years, leak a little more canon between books on your Web site, in interviews. If your book is accessible to fan fiction writers, all the better.

As an author you really should not be involved in the creation and running of your own fandom....but as mentioned above, you can do things to make it more accessible to your fans.

[chanel19.livejournal.com]

What? You're not going to be my #1 fan? That's crap! *g*

[londo.livejournal.com]

I appreciate your help, but feel that I botched that interview as badly as I have ever botched an interview.

Not that I can really say *why* I feel that way, only that I do.

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

Well, you didn't need to out yourself.

At least you got one reference in that had positive results ;)

If you get the gig, awesome. If you don't, let me know how I can help next.

[londo.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with being out, but if you'd prefer to delete/screen this thread, that's totally cool.

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

No worries, I was leaving it up to you.

[kimberly-elf.livejournal.com]

GREAT story! You're really doing a lot of good. :)

[rigel.livejournal.com]

Thank you bunches for all of this. It's certainly appreciated.

If you know of anyone who would like a smart, together person with a Bachelor's degree, some tech skills (but is not by any means a programmer) and is working towards his library science degree, let me know. He's only looking for part-time work.

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

Would be happy to help but my expertise lies in making connections once people have applied for a job. My time (or lack thereof) doesn't lend much to finding people job listings themselves yet. Working on it :)