Tag Archives: networking

Job Search and Career Development:How to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch

Posted on 21 May 2013 by Wendy Mason | 1 Comment

Job Search and Career Development:How to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch

Be ready to pitch your skills or business quickly, succinctly, and impressively when opportunities arise.

This video is from Howcast: http://howc.st/ytmainplaylists

I have started a new Career Development Group on LinkedIn where you will find lots of tips and other resources in due course – you can join it by clicking here

Wendy is the The Career Coach – helping you to find fresh perspectives on your Job Search and Career. She helps you work towards your goals and aspirations, in a way that fits in with both work and home life. Email her at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com, find her on Skype at wendymason14, or call +44 (0) 2081239146 (02081239146 for UK callers) or +1 262 317 9016 if you are in the US.

A free trial/consultation allows you to try phone coaching from the comfort of your own home and without risk. Don’t forget to ask about the Summer Special Offer

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Posted in Career Development, Job Search

Tagged Career Development, Elevator pitch, Job Search, networking

Job Search – Networking – Asking Friends For Help

Posted on 15 November 2012 by Wendy Mason | 1 Comment

Job Search – Networking – Asking Friends For Help

There are lots of people who still think there is something a bit naff about networking. “It isn’t something that people “like us” engage in!”

Well, of course you do! You do it all the time. You may, or may not do it well. And you may do it for all kinds of different motives – for example, to raise money for a local charity. But you do it just the same. Networking is just getting to know people and then offering them something (be it dinner or a sales product) and sometimes asking them for something.

Good networking is usually about reciprocity. So, what about networking when you are looking for a job? What is reciprocal about that?

Well, networking isn’t a short-term thing. The relationships you develop need to be built for the long-term – this is not about short-term exploitation; it is about investing something of yourself in a relationship that can stand the tests of time. At some point in any relationship, sometimes quite early on, there will usually be something one party asks of the other.

What makes a good networker?

Becoming a good listener and knowing how to encourage other people to talk are important skills, if you want to be a good networker. And both require you to take, and show, a real interest in the other person. Listen hard and listen quietly – hear the words and the music in terms of their tone and the body language that accompanies their words. Most of us enjoy being listened to fully – it reinforces our sense of ourselves.

Learn to make the conversation flow – from what you have heard, link to a new question – learn about the how and the why as well as the what. Find out more about them. Then let them find out about you – be open and ready to show them a real person.

In networking, establish the relationship before you ask for anything. And in job search be clear about what you are asking. Of course, you can let them know that you are looking but do more than that. Find out from your contact about their organization and the sector they work in. What are the latest developments? And be honest about your request for help. Tell them a little about you and what you could bring with you – what is the value you might add if they do pass your name on.

Make sure they have your clear contact details and follow-up with a note of thanks. If you can give something back – perhaps you have a contact that might be useful for them – or you might find an article in a magazine or know of book they might like. Because you are asking for something doesn’t mean you have nothing to give back. Just remember what I said above – networking is all about reciprocity.

Wendy Mason is a career coach. She helps people reach their goals and aspirations, without sacrificing their home and personal life. Before working as a coach, Wendy had a long career in both the public and private sectors in general management and consultancy as well as spells in HR. She now divides her time between coaching and writing. You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com and find out more at http://wisewolfcoaching.com

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Posted in Job Search, job seeking, Networking

Tagged Employment, How to network, Job hunting, Job Search, job seeking, Job-Hunt, learning to network, networking

Job Search Part 3:What networking can do for your job search!

Posted on 19 July 2012 by Wendy Mason | 4 Comments

Job Search Part 3:What networking can do for your job search!

Are you looking for work? Then you have come to the right place!

This is the third in our new series on Job Search. In the first at this link http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/05/job-searchwhat-kind-of-work-are-you-looking-for/we said that you have a decision to make! The clearer you are about the kind of work you want, the more likely you are to be successful.

In the second post last week at this link, http://wisewolftalking.com/2012/07/12/job-search-part-2-where-are-you-looking/, I set out some options for you in terms of where to look for work

Recruitment agencies
On-Line Job Sites
Contacting employers directly
LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter
Local newspapers and bulletin boards
Graduate and Intern schemes
Word of mouth – Networking

I said that I thought networking was the most effective way to look for work; so that is what we are going to tackle to-day.

Most jobs, particularly in the private sector, are never advertised at all. You find out about those jobs through talking to people – networking.

Letting people you know, and people they can introduce you to, know what you have to offer, really does bring new opportunities. These contacts can offer advice from own their experiences of job search. They can tell you about the sector they work in and they can introduce you to others, so that your network expands.

But networking is more than just asking for help! You need to make it a two-way conversation. In order to receive, you must be ready to give.

So what have you got to share in this conversation? Well, you can be an attentive audience! You can listen with real interest, attention and respect to what they have to say. Plus you can share your own knowledge. You can talk about your own sector and you can share your own contacts. Sometimes people are really grateful for an opportunity to talk about what is happening to them at work. Play your part and offer support when it is needed.

Make it an on-going and mutual conversation. You can become ambassadors for each other and connect each other with new possibilities.

You can network beyond your existing circle at, such as, an event run by your professional organization. If you don’t already belong to the professional organization for your sector, now is the time to join. It can be expensive but it really is a good investment. Your professional organization can help you keep you up to date with developments in your profession and in your market sector, as well as getting early warning about possible changes legislation. Knowing about new trends helps you to keep up personal development even though you are out of work.

You can network, as well, at events like job fairs which are intended to bring employers together with potential new employees. And if you are thinking of making a career change into starting your own business, lots of business networking events are held for you each week.

But, remember, the keys to success on any networking occasion are establishing a relationship and having a conversation. It is about showing you are someone they want, but it is not about selling yourself in a way that embarrasses you or the people you talk to. Have an elevator pitch (a 30-60 second description of what you do and why someone should work with you) but craft, and use it, with care.

To network well you need to understand the networking process and have the confidence to take an active part in it. If you would like one to one advice on networking email me. I am happy to offer readers of this blog a free half hour coaching session by phone or Skype

Next week we’ll tackle writing a winning CV

I know you can get that job you have been hoping for and I would like to help you. Email me wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com now to arrange a free half hour coaching session by Skype.

Wendy Mason is a career coach working mainly with professional women who want to make that jump to senior level. Before working as a coach, Wendy had a long career in both the public and private sectors in general management and consultancy as well as spells in HR. She now divides her time between face to face coaching, and coaching and blogging on-line. You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com and find out more at http://wisewolfcoaching.com

Coming shortly – the WiseWolf Career and Personal Development Programme – if you would like to know more email wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com

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Posted in Job Advertising, Job hunting, Job Search, Job Search Techniques, job seeking, Networking

Tagged Business networking, career, Career Coaching, Career Development, change, coach, Employment, Job Search, Job Search Techniques, Job Search. recruitment, job seeking, Job-Hunt, jobs, Labour economics, leadership, life coaching, Looking for a new job, Management, networking, Personal development, where to look for work

Tycoonwoman takes on the Abyss of Self Doubt

Posted on 14 December 2011 by Wendy Mason | Leave a comment

Simulated gravitational lensing (black hole go...

Ola Agbaimoni (Tycoonwoman) left the public sector a year ago after 25 years in local government. She took the plunge, left and set up her own company, Leaders to Follow Ltd. She works with work with ambitious, heart centered

women in their late 30s to mid 50s who are committed achieving their true potential.

But like most people starting a new business she had some difficult times on the way. Below is something she wrote a few months ago – before she moved on to success. It is a very good example of what the bad times can feel like. But if you want to succeed in business you just have to pick yourself up like Ola did, arm yourself with self belief and move forward.

“I’m still busy going to network meetings and talking to people, although perhaps not as many as my conversion projections would suggest. In sales’ speak that means how many people you have to speak to before you convert one into some one prepared to pay you, well in this case me. I won’t scare you with the numbers and to be honest you only have to do it that way until you get people prepared to recommend you, nothing sells you better than personal recommendation. This is me looking on the bright side. However, I often find myself starring into the Abyss Of Self Doubt.

The Abyss of Self Doubt

I have no clients. Not a single one. No one is paying me for my services. I have very clearly defined services and a fantastic elevator pitch to describe them. However, as yet they remain in my head because I have no leaflets and even though I have a web page it says UNDER CONSTRUCTION –a lot of help that is to potential clients!. It’s all going round and round in circles. I don’t want to produce my publicity without sorting out my branding and without publicity I won’t get any clients, so I won’t earn any money and I won’t be able to pay someone to do my branding and without branding I can’t do my publicity …I think you get the drift.

I can’t get to grips with why I don’t seem able to move forward. What is really going on for me? I did think it was because I’m not used to doing my own administration, but clearly that is just an excuse. Something else is prevented me from moving forward with my business and making money. I am not making any money at present (waling voice). Indeed I am not even spending money. So imagine my surprise when the HMRC sent me a VAT bill. Yes a VAT bill! When I already told them that I was not trading! When I already called and asked them if I needed to submit a VAT return for August as I was about to leave the country, AND as they had sent the notice so late, there was no time to respond before I left.

They said ‘no you don’t need to send in a VAT return. Your application missed the deadline and our system doesn’t show that one is due. We will send you a bill for the next quarter’.

I said ‘Are you sure? I don’t want you to write to me telling me that I should have sent you a return. Can you please put that on my records, so that if somebody else sees it they will know that you told me this?’

‘Yes’ said the very helpful (but as I discovered later) very ill informed person on the phone.

Clearly it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduce that it all ended in tears. With me having to quickly put in a VAT return, which basically said I have spent money on an IPad and have not made a single penny because I DON’T HAVE ANY CLIENTS!. I DON’T HAVE ANY CLIENTS!.

I am finding it so hard to find clients. I’ve done the ‘Painless Selling’ training. According to this – there are opportunities to find clients everywhere! All you have to do is start a conversation with a complete stranger! Show them their pain and behold you have a client! Yeh right!!!.

In the first place I really don’t want every single conversation I have to be a sales pitch. Definitely incongruence there – how can I be putting forward the philosophy that you have to be open and honest with people and come from a place of integrity, if I only ever talk to people because I’m trying to sell them something?

Anyway I have a deep aversion to sales people. As soon as I detect the sales pitch my guard goes up and I become completely defensive, horrible and nine times out of ten rude! The only thing I can think if is ‘GO AWAY!’ So if this is going to work for me (and I really want it to) I have to find another way.

I thought of talking to everyone I meet regardless of their client potential. Every conversation would just be a conversation. A sharing formation rather than a sales pitch. But how much time do I have to do that? I worked out that I would have to speak to over 1200 people per month to get 20 clients wow. (Oops Just gave you the scary figures!) Clearly that isn’t doable! When would I have time to coach them?!.

Ok enough of the Abyss of self doubt. It really isn’t as bad as all that. I’m getting stuck into my networking via 4Networking -‘ … the first joined-up national Networking organisation to let you decide where you go to meet like-minded business people, how often you go and how you can generate results for your business. They guaranteed 3 ten minute meetings at every event – up to 4 times a week – in nearly 200 linked breakfast groups’

I volunteered to be the group’s marketing assistant because you get your membership for half price and you can call any business you like and invite them to breakfast and then set up a meeting with them before anyone else can – what power. Takes the sting out of cold calling and I’ve already managed to find a business to trade coaching time for design skills.

So I shall leave on an optimistic note. The most powerful business tool I’ve discovered to date is self belief. With it you can get through the Abyss of self doubt and come out the other side more determined to succeed. Without it … I guess you just die in there! “

Tycoonwoman

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Posted in Business Start Up

Tagged Abyss, business start up, Career, confidence, networking, public sector, self belief, self employment, Self Esteem, starting a new business, Tycoonwoman, Unemployment

6 Tips for Confident Networking

Posted on 30 November 2011 by Wendy Mason | 5 Comments

SAN FRANCISCO - JULY 20: A job seeker receive...

Are you one of those rare (and very lucky ) people who enjoys networking?

Or are you like many others?

Do you arrive at a networking event, look around at the sea of faces, then find yourself barraged by a stream of doubts and uncertainties.

Negative self talk tells you that you’re a fraud, everyone else in the room is just great. There they are experienced business professionals at home in this environment. While you are just pretending, you don’t really know what you are doing!

And on top of you’re going to forget your speech, you won’t remember anyone else’s name and there is a very good chance you will forget your own!

The “sensible” part of you tells you not to be so silly. But there you are with these negative thoughts and anxieties in your head.

Relax and take a deep breath, then tell your brain it has more important things to think about!

No, you are not going to have a heart attack as you take the floor. You’ve got this under control and here are some tips to help!

Relax, take a deep breath, and smile! Taking in Oxygen deeply can steady nerves and lower your heart rate! Smiling releases endorphins and makes you feel more comfortable.
Practice positive self-talk. We all have some negative thoughts. Be conscious of them and then cut them off. Recognize them for what they are. Then replace them. As you approach the event fill your head with the repeated thought that you are confident and successful; People like you. Tell yourself firmly that you are going to do well and that people will be impressed. Say it very loudly and firmly in your own head. You can say out it loud in private at home before you go as well – repeat, repeat, repeat!
Have a great elevator speech and practice it ahead of time. This is a short paragraph or two that describes who you are and what your business does. Give it punch – make it interesting, informative, and memorable. Practice delivering it at home with confidence and don’t rush.
Be memorable. What is it about you and your business that makes you unique? Work it out then be quite clear about it. Don’t be afraid to tell people – make it part of your branding
Have good contact material! Make sure you always have business cards with you with up-to-date contact information. It is worth investing in a good business card that you feel proud of. They help you to feel very comfortable handing them out at networking events.
Be yourself and show an interest in others. Expect people to like you – tell yourself they will. People like people who show an interest in them, and that is what you are going to do. Remember you are bringing them a gift – your talents and experience and there can be no one else just like you!