How to Get a Job Without Connections - TheJobNetwork

How to Get a Job Without Connections - TheJobNetworkNetworking is probably the number one way to get yourself a job if you are looking. Referrals account for nearly 40% of all hiresand referred employees often get jobs quicker and make more money out of the gate. But what if you dont have anyone to refer you to a particular company or within a particular industry? If this is the case, then youll need to figure out how to get a job without connections. Luckily, weve got the right information to accomplish that. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are 4steps to follow to help you get a referral even if you lack the relevant connections.1. Find an InfluencerOnce youve determined theres a job opening somewhere, find someone who has influence on the hiring process for that position. Search for the position you want and the company you want in a site like LinkedIn until you find your Influencer.2. Make contactFind the contact information for that person and get in touch to set up a time to chat. This is just normal networking, remember? Easy Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Address the new contact by name, briefly explain that youre interested in working in their company, but ask only for advice. Throw in some modest, subtle flattery to sweeten them up, and politely request a quick coffee (your treat) to pick their brain. You can use Quick question as your subject line.If you dont get a reply, dont badger themand dont worry Just find yourself another influencer in the same companyor for a different job entirely, and try again. If or when you do get a meeting, make koranvers to do plenty of homework first. That means researching the company, the field, the contact, etc.3. Prep your questionThe absolute most important question you need to ask is this What is the biggest challenge your team is facing right now? That question will make all the difference between awkward small talk and giving your new contact the oppo rtunity to open up and talk about something that matters to themand something that will be extremely informative and helpful to you. Dig in. Listen hard. And send a thoughtful thank you note.4. Strategize your solutionYouve heard from your Influencer (and new contact) what their biggest challenge is. Now figure out their solution. Reach out, research, think inside and outside the box. Put yourself in their teams shoes and consider things from every conceivable angle. Once youve got a great idea, make sure to test it through all the possible hypotheticals you can come up with. Then craft a detailed and elegant proposal.Youre going to send this proposal to your Influencer. Start a casual email, with an extra thank you for the coffee date, then say that youve been thinking about the conversation and mulling through their situation and then BAM. Explain that youve come up with a proposal to help solve their problem. Its gutsy, of course, but if your idea is goodeven if it isnt perfectit will show your value, and your Influencer will most likely share it with their team.If any or all of this goes your way, youll probably be able to follow up by inquiring about any open opportunities on this persons team (knowing already, of course, that there is one). Best case scenario Instant referral Worst case scenario youve netted yourself a new contact or two.How to get a job without connections - TheJobNetworkYouve heard the old adage a thousand times before, its all about who you know. Submitting a sleek, professional resume is obviously your first priority in the hund for a new job, but employee referrals are the job hunters secret weapon. According to a recent study by Payscale, 41% of employees who landed a job because of a referral did so through family and friends and 32% got a referral from a business contact. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) So, what do you do if you dont have any inside connections? What if youve moved t o a new city and your social circle is nonexistent at the moment? What if youre fresh out of college and you didnt network as well as you may have wanted? Dont worry. Even when you dont know anyone, getting a referral that lands you an bewerberinterview is a lot easier than you think.Message mutual friends on social mediaFacebook is clearly the dominant social media outlet, and its likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future. As such, its a surprisingly great resource for finding employment leads. Your suggested friends list is a potential job referral gold mine. You can also use the search function on Facebook in clever ways to aid in your new career quest. Find individuals by the city they live in, where they went to school, which friends you both have in common, as well as where they work.I suggest mixing and matching a few of these filters.Start off with finding people that work at the company youve been eyeing, and also went to the same university as you.Then transition to friends of friends that work where youd like to apply.If you come up empty-handed with either of those combinations, just search for people by workplaceThe biggest hurdle with seeking job referrals, particularly if youre an introvert, is reaching out to someone that you barely know. It seems intimidating (maybe even a bit rude) to message someone youre unfamiliar with, but its actually in their benefit to have you brought onto the team. Many companies have lucrative referral programs that incentivize current employees to suggest new hires.When striking up a conversation with someone you barely know or dont know at all, remember not to jump head first into a sale pitch be tactful. Break the ice by bringing up a commonality. Build a relationship before you solicit them for a job.Scan their Facebook page and see what pages they follow, what music or movies theyre interested in, anything that will make the inevitable questioning about their work much more acceptable.Open up with a m essage like thisHey there, I saw that we both know mutual friend. I also noticed youre into the same musician, book, movie as I am. Thats awesome, I love them I dont mean to bother you, but I welches curious if youd be interested in chatting for a bit about company? Wheneveryoure available, of course. No rush. I welches looking to apply there and I wanted to get your thoughts on a few things before I sent in my resume. Id love to know what you thought about album, novel, ending of movie too Thanks so much.Always be mindful of how aggressive youre coming off. Your main goal is to build a bridge with a prospective colleague. If you dont receive a response as quickly as youd like, be patient and never be too pushy.Reconnect with your universitys alumni networkUniversity alumni networks arent just for reconnecting with old college flames or long-lost roommates, theyre an ideal resource for job referrals. College is, after all, your first major networking pool and reaching out to a fello w university alum is a lot more comfortable than, say, random Facebook users. You already share a common sense of identity. Think of your alma mater as an extended group of potential colleagues.Many of these networks are designed with the specific purpose of helping students advance their careers. If youre totenstill in school, head to the career center on campus. They often maintain large databases of alumni information, so see if theyre able to get you in contact with recent graduates.Scope out the universitys website and find the alumni section. In this digital age, colleges often utilize some form of external platform that you can log into. You should have access to these areas for a lengthy period of time after graduation, but its simple to sign back up if youve been out of school for a while.Additionally, college career centers host job fairs and similar networking events that are open to the public. Consider attending one whether you live near your old school or youre in a ne w city.Scour Linkedin for employeesHopefully, youve been diligently growing your LinkedIn network. If you havent, well then, open a new browser tab and either build your profile or start expanding your network immediately. LinkedIn is hands down your best chance at securing a job referral from someone that actually works in the career field your applying to. Its perfect for when you absolutely, positively dont know a single person that can refer you for a job.Follow these stepsSearch LinkedIn for the job you want.If you already have a profile, browse your first and second-degree connections.Research what you can about the company and find someone currently employed there (either inside or outside your LinkedIn network).Politely introduce yourself and try to set up a meeting over coffee or lunchAsk specific questions related to their business.Once youve found a contact in your industry, try and set up an informational interview. This is where you field questions about the nature of t he company and their particular position. Not only will you gain valuable insight into the business, if you impress the contact well enough, you have an opportunity to be referred for the position you want.You can be far more direct with your LinkedIn pitch as opposed to the Facebook example from earlier.Hello LinkedIn Contact,Ive been following the work of company for some time now and Im considering submitting my resume for position. If you have a moment, I was interested in asking a few questions regarding the application process. It would be great to get an insiders perspective on company product as well. Were there any issues that arose with that project? Has it been successful? I appreciate your time. I look forward to finding out all that I can about company.An added benefit of cold-emailing employees like this is that its good practice for when you finally reach the interview stage. Even if you arent able to set up a meeting, that person is likely to tell you how to get in t ouch with someone that can assist you. Ultimately, thats what youre trying to accomplish.Join a meetup websiteWhats better than a networking event? I know, youre probably thinking anything is better than a networking event. However, there are a handful of websites out there that make networking much more tolerable.These sites are perfect for chatting with professionals with inside information about your industry and meeting people that can refer you to recruitersMeetup Perhaps the largest networking website out there. Meetup has a dedicated job search page to help you find business socials in your areaEventbrite Used by organizers to promote, plan, and even sell tickets (if necessary) to area eventsEventful An online calendar and local event tracking website that includes a networking categoryReddit The /r/meetups page on Reddit primarily organizes social networking events, but you never know who you might run into.There are a few things to keep in mind when joining a networking website. Be wary of only mingling with other unemployed people. Youre there to find work and neither of you are in a position to help one another at the moment.Events with low attendance can also be an issue, particularly if youre in town with a small population. Try not to waste your time if it doesnt seem worthwhile.Avoid sites like Craigslist when looking for gainful employment. While it may help with an entry-level job search, you run the risk of being scammed. I once attended what I originally thought was a networking event which turned out to be a bizarre attempt to pitch multi-level marketing (read pyramid scheme) to the few confused individuals that showed up.Getting a job referral doesnt have to be about who you know. It just takes a little initiative.About the AuthorLauren McAdams is a career adviser and hiring manager at ResumeCompanion. Shes been quoted by sites like Forbes, Huffington Post, and TechRepublic. When shes not busy helping job seekers, shes sipping on coffe e or a glass of wine depending on the time of day of course.

Why Salary is Only Half of the Total (Benefits) Package

Why Salary is Only Half of the Total (Benefits) Package It finally happened. You just received a call from the recruiter at your dream company, the place where youve invested dozens of hours researching and preparing, and likely taken a few sick days interviewing. All of your hard work has paid off and theyve offered you a job But before you sign on the dotted line, ask yourself how well do you really understand the total package of your offer?The reality is that every company thinks about total rewards - HR speak for all of the moduls of a job offer (which well cover below) - differently. And while in todays world the average tenure at a company is only a few years, consider your job offer as if it were a long term decision. What are the elements you might expect, and how should you prioritize them against each other?Base SalaryThis is the fruchtwein common and straightforward part of compensation. Your kusine salary is the fixed amount of money you receive from your employer for th e work you perform. The great thing about base salary is that its predictable - you know exactly how much (minus taxes) you are going to get in your bank account each pay period. When evaluating base salary presented to you, dont be shy about asking these questionsIs it an annual base salary or an hourly rate?Are you eligible for overtime pay in your role if you work beyond a tischset number of hours?How frequent is the pay period? (Some companies pay monthly, twice a month, or every other week.)How often is your base salary reviewed, and at what point would you be eligible for growth in your base? (Either through an annual compensation review or through performance reviews.)BonusSome roles - though not all - are eligible for a bonus on top of their base salary. There are a few different ways you might see a bonus pop up in your offerPerformance bonus This is typically awarded annually and can be determined by company goals (i.e., achieving revenue targets) or individual goals (as m easured by a performance review). This could be offered as a flat dollar amount or a percentage of your base salary. A good question to ask your recruiter is whether the bonus is a target or a ceiling - if the former, then youd have the opportunity to receive a larger bonus if you or the company outperforms goals.Sign-on bonus This is a one-time bonus that is typically paid at the time you sign the offer or within your first few months at the company. Often, a sign-on might be used to help round out any compensation that youre walking away from at your current company, or simply as an extra incentive to make your offer more compelling. With sign-on bonuses, pay attention to the fine print - fruchtwein likely, your offer letter will contain a claw back, which essentially states that youre required to repay your sign-on bonus if you leave the company on your own volition within a certain period of time (usually within the first year).Relocation bonus If youre moving cities in order to take this job, you might ask if the company offers relocation assistance, either in the form of a one-time bonus or a reimbursement of your expenses. Not all companies offer this and it may be dependent on the role or level, but its certainly worth checking.One thing to consider is that bonuses are often taxed at a higher rate than base salary, so factor that in when youre calculating your take-home pay as related to your offer.EquityThis is often the most complex part of any offer, and the element that recruiters here at HubSpot spend the most time explaining to candidates. Traditionally in the market, equity is reserved for senior hires however, more and more companies are opening up their equity pool. (In fact, at HubSpot, we make equity an element of every full-time offer, so all of our employees are shareholders.) Some things to consider if equity is a part of your offer includeIs the equity in the form of options or restricted stock?What is the vesting schedule (in other word s, when does equity convert to cash)?Is an equity grant a one-time thing that happens at the time of your offer, or is there potential for additional equity grants over time?BenefitsThis is usually an afterthought for most of our candidates, but the reality is that not all benefits plans are created equal and there is a wide sortiment of coverage options. Most commonly medical, dental, and vision are included, but also things like long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts can be added. The biggest question is how much does this cost you? I once worked at a company where medical, dental, and vision care were completely free to the employee, while other companies may offer plans with higher premiums (monthly payments) and lower coverage (only a certain percentage of a doctors visit or a procedure is covered by insurance and youre responsible for paying for the rest out of pocket).Other benefits outside of the health sphere can include, among other things, va cation time (do you accrue Paid Time Off or does the company, like HubSpot, offer unlimited vacation?), backup care options (for a child, family member, or even pet), a retirement program, or tuition reimbursement? Pay attention to all of these things carefully, because the incentive to you - or the cost - can add up quickly.What else?You may be thinking that with all these elements of compensation weve already discussed, what else could there be? Ultimately, if youre going to make a smart decision, you should be paying attention to the other aspects of an offer as much as the financial elements. For example, you might be willing to take a lower salary if it meant that you could work remotely and not have to deal with commuting into an office. On the flip side, if you know youre going into a job where long hours are the norm, you might try to negotiate for a higher salary. You also might be in a scenario where there is no room to negotiate an offer. Thats why its important to consid er whats at stake, includingWhat level of flexibility does the company offer? Will you be able to work from home as needed or jet out for a doctors appointment with minimal issue?What stage is the company in and how does that affect your ability to have an impact?What career growth opportunities are available? Does the company have a track record of promoting internally? Will you have the opportunity to move outside of your department if you want?Do you like the people youre going to be working with - your boss, your peers, or the people youll be managing? Are they people who will challenge you, teach you, and generally be with you enjoyable to work with?Ultimately you want to be in a role and part of a company where you feel like youre having an impact, learning and growing, working with great people on a product or service youre excited about, and can be your best professional - and personal - self.The last piece of advice Ill give you is not to rush - while you may be pressured t o make a decision on the spot when you get that call from your recruiter, resist temptation and give yourself some time to consider all of the elements and always ask to see it in writing. And never, ever, resign from your current role before youve signed the offer letter for your new role. Ultimately, the decision to change jobs is anything but trivial, and the offer is a big piece of how youll make that decision, so take the time you need to evaluate all the elements, consult with your family, friends, or mentors, and get to a point where you feel great about your decision before you formally share it. Becky McCullough--This article originally appeared onHubSpot.