Mastering the Art of IRL Networking
For those of you hit with the “we’ll get back to you in the new year” or “we’ll let you know in the future” responses from hiring managers, check out these ideas to network your way to success.
lisa wrezel
You're probably starting to hear this line from hiring managers and companies. Auto reply emails are starting to hit your inbox and you might hear crickets until 2024🦗
But now's the time to dial in and be ready to hit the ground running in the new year.
Lisa Wrezel, Talent Sourcing & Diversity Specialist at Air Products, recommends using your time to continue the job search in this way.
"Applying to a role with hundreds of applicants and trying to stand out? I recommend recording a video expressing why you are interested in this role and what makes you a good fit.
Don't do this for each role you apply for-this is for the jobs that you REALLY want. Keep the video under 2 minutes. Email the video to the hiring manager directly, stating in the body of your email that you realize this may be unorthodox but are trying to differentiate yourself in an extremely competitive market.
*I personally leveraged this strategy during my job search and had success with it. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you'd like to hear more about how to put this intro practice."
hudson brock
CEO and Founder of AlloHire, Champion for Chattanooga, and Advocate for Allocentrism, Hudson Brock 🚀, shares his advice on what to do between now and January 1st.
The best job search begins with genuinely seeking real relationships.
Hudson says, “In this digital world, don’t underestimate the power of meeting someone in person. IRL networking still has some magic in it. If you go to 1+ gatherings per month, have 3+ meaningful conversations (including exchanging contact info), and have 2+ follow up conversations (ideally over coffee / tea), you will be amazed how job opportunities (and more importantly friendships) begin to take root.”
So, in the next 35 days attend at least one in person event and grab coffee with someone you meet there!
jaela vazquez
Here's what Senior Recruiter at Steam Logistics, Jaela Vazquez, recommends you do between now and January 1st.
"Step 1: Follow up, and then follow up again! Recruiters talk with many candidates each day and review a high volume of resumes. Do your best to keep yourself fresh in the hiring managers and recruiter’s mind. Send periodic check-in’s that re-express your interest in the role, as well as inquire if there is more information you can provide in the meantime.
Step 2: Research. Take this extra time to make yourself very familiar with information about the company such as history, goals/missions, and industry knowledge. Expand beyond just reviewing their website.
Step 3: Network. Use LinkedIn to reach out to current and former employees of the company to gain a better understanding of the culture, management, and structure of the company, as well as other factors."
paden janney
Receiving 'We’ll get back to you in the New Year' is frustrating. At the same time, this tells you a few things about the company including how they prioritize time off as well as the candidate experience. While it’s easy to demonize this approach, ultimately, it’s up to you to determine if this auto-response is a positive sign regarding their culture or one that makes you reconsider joining the team altogether.
If you are lukewarm on this company, your time and efforts will be better spent reaching out to people you’ve connected with in the past. Think Recruiters, Hiring Managers or connections at companies you admire.
I recommend reaching out with genuine interest to connect to instead of the message we’ve all seen that’s a laundry list of your qualifications for the role but misses the human aspect completely. Your message might look like this:
'Hi, Paden! It’s been a few months since we last connected, so I wanted to hear about how this year has been for you. Anything big happen?'
Simple messages with good intentions win time and time again. Good luck this season and don’t forget to be nice to yourself as we close out the year. Your resilience, grit, creativity and persistence are qualities worth celebrating!