💡 Necessity Is the Mother of Invention (Issue 126)
Finding ways to make a living
I recorded a podcast episode about the “frozen U.S. job market” for my career newsletter today. The current political unrest and economic turmoil are making employers very nervous, so the pace of hiring has slowed to levels last seen shortly after the Great Recession.
Also, employees are staying put, which is a wise decision. This isn’t the kind of job market that will reward you if you quit your job and hope to find something better.
However, some people weren’t lucky enough to get that choice. Thousands have been fired and laid off in the corporate world and government sectors. So, they have been dumped into a cold market where it might take the rest of the year to find a new job—if even then.
I'm sorry if this has happened to you or someone you care about. If you are reading this newsletter, you have an entrepreneurial spirit. You don’t have to put all your eggs into the employment basket. You can start building your business while looking for a new job.
You never know. Your business might do well enough that you decide you no longer need a new job! That happened to me over 15 years ago, and I never returned to an employer.
Luckily, much of the work I recommend for an effective job search strategy also works for building a new business. So, while you are using these strategies, it aids your job search AND helps your business land new customers.
Connecting
Targeting
Broadcasting
1. Connecting
Connecting is one of the best ways to find a great new job and generate new business leads. Every single one of my corporate jobs came about because of my network. I had connections and inside champions who made it much easier for me to land offers.
When I launched my first business in the late 90s, all my clients came through my network. Referrals fueled it all. I didn’t run ads or really do any marketing.
Now, this is certainly easier for experienced professionals with several years of working experience. You have built a network of colleagues and hopefully stayed in touch with the best people.
However, recent college grads will have to connect with different people to discover potential opportunities and work their way into internal corporate relationships. They don’t have a powerful network yet.
Talk with professors and advisors. My first internship came through a conversation with my advisor and stats professor. He picked up the phone and called an old grad student working in Silicon Valley, and that conversation turned into an opportunity.
Talk with graduate students. I know that universities have overloaded professors, and it’s hard to build close relationships with professors in large universities. So, have some conversations with graduate students who may have completed internships and have relationships with people in the industry. A graduate student helped me land an internship with Apple one summer.
Talk with other recent graduates who have landed jobs already. Some of your friends may already be in the working world. Talk with them about what you are seeking and get some introductions to people who can help you land some interviews.
Reach out to alumni. Over the years, several students have reached out to me for advice. We had absolutely no connection other than the university. They looked me up as a UNL and Rice University graduate, then had the courage to reach out and ask if they could talk with me about their career plans. I said yes, of course. Alumni often want to help young students succeed, so don’t be shy about connecting with them on LinkedIn and learning more about what they know, where they work, and who they might be able to introduce you to.
2. Targeting
Targeting is similar to Connecting but starts with a list of employers or clients you want to pursue. Once you’ve identified a company or potential customer of interest, start researching who works there, used to work there, or is connected to the right people who make purchasing decisions.
Use LinkedIn to find current and past employees in your profession (e.g., designers, engineers, data analysts, etc.). Leverage your network to figure out who is connected to the people you want to reach. For example, I just introduced one of my clients to someone I know at a company of interest.
If you’re a recent college grad, search for people in these companies who are alumni of your school. As I said, most alumni (i.e., the good people) love to help young grads get a good start in their first jobs. I always had college students and recent grads reaching out to me when I was a leader at eBay and Yahoo. Don’t be shy!
Your alumni network works well, even if you’re a more experienced professional. Standford alumni help each other with connections. Harvard alumni help open doors for each other. Every school’s alumni look out for each other. Reach out and connect with these folks on LinkedIn.
3. Broadcasting
Broadcasting is a long-term strategy that takes time. Most people ignore this, so they always struggle to find new jobs or keep their business deal flow going.
However, when you consistently show the world who you are, what you know, and how great you are, opportunities will eventually start flowing in your direction. You become an opportunity magnet—for jobs and clients.
This isn’t a fast strategy. You must put in the time every day, week, month, and year.
Publish useful content.
Share your thoughts on social media.
Comment intelligently on people’s posts.
Be visible! Be noticeable. Become memorable.
I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you become a more "Invincible You" so you can live your life on your terms instead of being controlled by someone else's rules. My wife and I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe.
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