Don’t ask for a job

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Don’t ask for a job

February 20, 2012 | (5 Comments)

Here’s an easy way to turn dreaded employment networking into deadly effective bonding:

When you’re networking, ask for a reference, not a job.

Whether you’re doing catch-up drinks or grabbing lunch to reconnect, your main goal is to get an ally, not a tally of job listings. Recruiting a helping hand to your search is your aim.

So don’t ask your college buddy if he knows of any jobs for people like you. How would he?

And don’t ask your boss from two jobs ago if she has the names of any people who are currently looking to hire somebody like you. It puts her on the spot.

No, instead, ask for a reference. Mention that you’re going to be moving on, or you’re already looking, or that you’re actively out on the street. Let them know the type of positions you are and are not suited for, and what you’re hoping to achieve in your next opportunity.

And then ask them if — when it gets to that happy place in your search — it would be OK to use them as a reference.

By not putting them on the spot about specific job openings, you reduce the awkwardness inherent in the networking conversation.

And by letting them know that you hold them in high enough esteem to potentially use them as a reference, you’re actually paying them a compliment.

You’re also making it easier for them to say “yes”, and to feel good about themselves for being a good friend and helping you out with this little favor.

All of which means that you have a new buddy in your search — one who’s going to be thinking about keeping an eye out for new opportunities and an ear open for fresh possibilities for their reference-able friend: you.

It’s wins and grins all around.

Now, this doesn’t work for just any old person you meet on the street. There’s probably a pretty good match between people you’d take to lunch and those you could ask to be a reference. So my advice would be to stick to asking those you know well enough.

Being realistic, the widely offered and deeply wrong advice from the past decade that you should try to extract favors, concessions, names, jobs, and career assistance from people you’ve only met over the phone is not only useless, it can be counterproductive to your aims by antagonizing your broader network.

By making your networking about compliments, you’ll find it pays dividends.

Good luck in the search this week!

Chris

Straight from the pages of John Lucht’s excellent book “Rites of Passage.”
Kudos to John for writing this…and Marc for repeating John’s words.
Pattym362002

Good Morning Marc,

I have been following you on your website for over a year now. I love all your insight on tried and true proven technique to secure that “awesome” job! I do have to tell you just recently, I joined the “premiere” level of “The Ladders” by paying $ 49.00 to be able to view the most up to date employers and positions. I was connected to one of your individuals on your technical team. Her name is Anna Hughes. She critiqued my resume and suggested that I have my resume professionally re-written by your resume re-writing team.

I explained to her that would be great. However, I do not have the money currently to pay for said service. My unemployment just ran out, so that’s not an option at this time. I do wish I could afford the cost. I asked her if I could possibly get a reduced price and she said that “The Ladders” do not offer this. She did however, suggest that either she, or someone from the team send me the resume re-write kit at no cost to re-write my own resume myself. I am still waiting. It’s been 2 weeks now. I am somewhat disappointed to be quite honest.

I chose your website “The Ladders” as the only website that I would invest any money in to help with securing a job. I am currently on practically every major website trying to find work. I was laid off from Lawrence Livermore National Labs back in May of 2010, and have been looking for work since. I did take a part-time job in another field (retail) during the holidays for minimum wage just to survive.

Marc… is there anyway you would be willing to help me?

Sincerely,

Patricia Martin

pattym362002@yahoo.com
Rtkidd88

This is a great tip! I can see how this will engage my audience in the journey with me. Thank you for sharing that. Robert
H.B.

Mr. Marc Cenedella

I
sincerely appreciate and understand this information. Do you ideally or members of your team who understand this type of thinking, do direct individual and group counseling all over the country, for those who are seeking to flourish financially while being a genuine asset and contributor to society?

I live in Long Beach, CA. People need one on one contact with
someone genuinely helpful with applicable methods for success beyond the mediocre. I have been
helping people in cultural, spiritual, and financial many ways all my life. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean
they will be just as committed to you or help you to move beyond the vises of the system. They get what they either have the
propensity or patients to obtain and move on as if they never knew you most of the time. Everyone needs the same things, but most aren’t developed ideally to live life in a wise and prioritized manner.

Knowledge
is key but true effective application is important. I’m a man of
culture, talent and vision caught in a extremely controlling and
stagnating system. It not only takes years from you needlessly, it is devastatingly discouraging. One would rather be still, study and think, than
be used up and walked on all their life.

Trust to get a response. Thanks for your time and consideration.

H.B.
alkebulanfirstworld@yahoo.com
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/R6WJ2GCIKVEWDQOSQZ7O2FWECE Bo

Dear Marc,

I know a lady that owns a company that is looking to hire someone with my skills and experience. I talked to her one day about the position. She said she didn’t have anyone in mind for the job and asked me to submit my resume. I found out that a friend of mine whom I had worked with before was the VP. I contacted him and we went out to lunch. He said he would help get me an interview. He asked me how much I was looking for in salary and I asked what were they looking to give. He didn’t know. I told him my former salary but told him that this was not set in stone. Since then I have been researching this company’s competitors and potential clients. Should I send a email to this lady expressing my desire to work for her company and show her my research or do I sit and wait for a interview.

Thanks in advance for your advise.

Best regards,
Bo

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