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    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
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- Groundwork -
taking a shortcut and using your network
by fergus mellon

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Career Offices will tell you that you should use your network to help you get a job.  Superficially this sounds like great advice.  "Yes I should use my relationship with XYZ CEO to help me get a [job] [internship] [insert goal]."

For most people this can sound daunting!  First there is the terminology. What is networking?  I put the term in my file of "Unnecessary Jargon" as networking sounds way too intimidating.  If you are intimidated by it, don't be.  Networking is just a fancy term for meeting with other people, whether you know them (your network) or you want to get to know other people to add to your professional circle (networking).

Originally I had images of a "networker" slickly going around a drinks party and making the loudest jokes, being superficial and handing out as many business cards as possible. While that is undoubtedly a form of networking it is probably the least effective kind.

So that you feel comfortable about it, know that networking is not about being superficial.  Instead think about networking as establishing professional relationships with people.  For more on the act of genuine networking read: Never Eat Alone and other secrets of success one relationship at a time by Keith Ferrazzi.  Keith is a very sophisticated networker and gives some great ideas about how to be genuine in building relationships.  I have been in a working session with Keith and I went in thinking he would be slick and superficial (did I say I think networking can be gross?), but he was genuine and explained how important real relationships are.  I probably only practice about 20% of what he recommends and have found that even this has improved my level of effectiveness. Buy the book!

Just think about networking as making contact and then building relationships with human beings who are in the same industry as you are.

Back to actually trying to leverage relationships. 

At age 21 (or even 29 when I was finishing my MBA) I thought that I had no real contacts who could help me land a nice job.  I was wrong.  I just needed to think on what type of person could help me and then whether there was someone I know who then knew that type of person. 

When I took a step back it became easy!

Wasn't there that Marketing person who worked with my Dad?  Did he have contacts I could use?  What about that neighbor who worked at that great CPG firm?  Oh, didn't one of my friend's parents do X,Y or Z?  What about that adjunct Professor who worked at that consulting business I wanted to join?

The more I thought about who could help me in my career moves, the more I felt like I had a good place to start.  Even if you are the first person to go to college in your family and you don't have a lot of professional contacts through your family, still do not sweat it.  You will have to work a bit harder, but ask your Career Office if there are former graduates who work in the area you want to work (there may even be a mentorship program or Alumnus who want to help people break into their industry).  You may also want to ask a friend or two for help if you know they have parents who are well connected. 

The only piece to keep in mind is that while you may get a referral by someone in your network, this is not a guarantee of you getting in, particularly for your first role.

I had one experience where early on I wanted to intern in a Law firm and I asked a neighbor who was in the field to help me.  While he was very helpful it actually put me at a disadvantage because to get to the next stage (a summer internship) I had to work with his internal HR team. 

Why was this a problem? 

Because the HR team felt that I was circumventing the process by using a relationship and not going through the standard application process! 

So my advice here is if it’s a big company, try to stick with the process so you are not seen to be going outside their standard HR practice.  It is still worth having conversations that you can reference at your interview and support your case as why you are interested in a company and a profession.  See the section on Informational Interviews for more on this.  If the company you are joining is a small company without a formal program for Early Stage Professionals, then the relationship-shortcut route is going to be more successful as you are not seen to be undermining the "process" (as there is unlikely to be much of a process!). 

​Next Section: Dealing with a Low GPA or skip to The Interview

Related Sections: Getting Started: Networking Simplified, Networking as a Relationship or try Networking Hacks


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In the first 5 or so years of your career?  Want actionable career advice? Buy Early Stage Professional: starting off right, the no nonsense professional skills book designed so that everyone can succeed in the workplace! 

Got feedback?  Send it to fergus@whattheferg.com

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Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?

Groundwork

Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​
Responding to Recruiters

Dealing with Rejection

You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

Closing the Deal & Signing On

The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week

Wise Words

Annual Reviews
Layoffs.  The Afterlife
Your Manager As Partner
Owning Mistakes

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management