Networking... What's the Big Deal?

By Megan Elliott

A buzzword you may have heard during your job search is “networking,” but what does that word mean? What does networking have to do with a job search? Well, everything, if you do it right.

Networking is simply something that you do on a regular basis, talking to your friends and family. A helpful suggestion is to write down everyone you know. Family members, friends, friends of friends, coworkers from previous jobs, and even casual acquaintances are part of your network. Each person in that network can connect you with people in their network. If you write down everyone you know, and call them to ask for their support while you’re looking for a job, and suggestions of people they know who may have a good lead, you potentially have thousands of job leads in no time!

Before you start calling and e-mailing everyone in your network, however, it’s best to have a plan in mind as to how you’re going to approach your network. Develop your plan by asking yourself questions and preparing a statement that answers all of them.

1.       Who will you be talking to?

2.       How would they know you?

3.       What specific jobs are you looking for?

4.       What are your best skills within those types of jobs?

5.       How can you be best contacted?

A good answering service response to these questions would be, “Hello Mr. Evan Clark! My friend Tripp Carter told me to call you today. I’m Megan Elliott, and I’m looking for a job as an administrative assistant within your company. I have excellent phone skills, and I learn filing systems quickly.  If you would like more information, please call me at (843) 519-1319.”

If you’ve been lucky enough to get the person you’re trying to reach on the phone, make sure you keep the conversation flowing. Ask questions, wait for appropriate responses, go into more detail about your skills, and make sure you follow their directions when they ask for you to send in your resume or cover letter.

In-person networking can be more intimidating, but it’s also been shown to be more rewarding. Person-to-person contact allows for eye contact, which is known to increase a feeling of trust among the participants in the conversation.

E-mailing someone can be a little tricky. If they don’t know you, the e-mail can be sent straight to the trash bin, without the person you wanted to read it ever realizing that you sent it. If they do know you, it can be ignored until they have the time to respond to you. One advantage to e-mailing someone is that there is no limit to the number of words you can use, but a good rule of thumb is to keep it to a paragraph or two of quality information that answers the same questions as listed above.

Above all else, remember that networking is all about making and maintaining relationships with people who have similar interests or desires as you. If someone tells you they don’t know of anyone hiring, don’t give up! As the old saying goes, “As one door closes, another one opens.” Keep looking for those open doors. You never know what may walk through them!

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Asking for Accommodations for the Job Interview

by Megan Elliott

Say you’ve been a client of ERS for a while, and we’ve found you a job that has your name all over it. You apply for it with the resume we’ve helped you create, and you’ve gotten a phone call from the company. They want you to come in for an interview!

Your career coach does mock interviews with you over and over again, and helps you feel better about the interview, but there’s something missing. There’s something that you can’t bring yourself to ask us, even though it’s a pretty important set of information. What are the rules about asking for an accommodation before the interview?

According to this factsheet, produced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there are protections in the Americans with Disabilities Act not just for those who already have a job and have a disability, but also for those who are applying for jobs. “Reasonable accommodations,” or changes or adjustments to routines or facilities that do not place undue hardships on employers, are required of employers to enable all applicants to be considered for job openings.

When asking for accommodations for the interview, keep in mind that you will be asked what would be a reasonable accommodation for you, but it’s up to the employer to decide what will be reasonable for them. If a particular accommodation would cause a monetary hardship or would significantly alter business-as-usual to the employer, then you need to recognize that and perhaps offer another alternative.

Take this as an opportunity to demonstrate your negotiation skills. Accommodations are not favors done for the applicant, they are required by law. That doesn’t entitle you to demand the accommodations, and would most likely damage your chances of receiving an offer. Demonstrate those excellent communication skills you listed on your resume, and always leave the hiring manager with a good impression of you.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, as of September 2012, 21.9% of the American labor force is disabled, and 13.5% of unemployed Americans are disabled. The need seems greater than ever before to have a solid strategy in hand for applying for jobs, for asking for accommodations once an interview is requested, and for asking for accommodations once an offer has been made.

ERS is here for you to support you throughout the process. Your career coach can help you brainstorm ideas for accommodations, and practice how to ask for them. This is your journey, but you won’t be walking it alone!

What kind of experiences have you had in asking for accommodations, for job interviews or for job offers? Share your stories with us in the comments!