Hidden Job Market Networking: Why you must meet people outside your function

It goes without saying that as a job seeker you must create networking opportunities with those at the right level and in the right position to hire you. At the same time, you can significantly accelerate your search by networking with people who might not initially seem to fit that criteria. 

Consider networking with people who are outside your function and at least one level above you on the org chart.

Here are some of the advantages of this strategy:

1. You will learn the language of a different function and how to translate all the great things you did and can do for a hiring company into terms that will resonate with senior management.
2. You will get to hear some of the issues of a company from a senior perspective. You might not hear about these issues from people at lower levels. And best of all? You have information other job seekers don’t have!
3. When you’re networking with these executives or interviewing with them, you’ll be able to explain how and what you can do to help the company solve their issues. It’s a great way to position yourself as someone unique. I’ve seen these conversations lead to the creation of a position just for that person. It can happen.

You’ll be networking with the in-crowd!

This strategy pays off even if you are already working. 

When I worked at the software development company, I didn’t know any better and spend a lot of time asking the executives a lot of questions to learn about their areas. As a result, I learned a lot about the in’s and out’s of the products and services we provided. As a result, every time they had a new issue, I could propose viable solutions based on the broad perspective all those earlier questions had given me. I got several promotions (and raises–remember raises?) to implement those solutions.

So pick someone to call, get your FREE Networking scripts out, and pick up the phone.

Let me know how it is going, and never hesitate to give me a call if you have any questions.

Wishing you the best!

Katherine

And of course, be sure to get this interview guide. Use it and your next interview could be your last interview!