The old Hollywood adage of “it’s not who you know, but who knows you” can be applied to the job market too. While turmoil and devastation has wreaked havoc on the employment market, one thing that hasn’t changed is the old fashioned way of finding a job. Networking, like it or not, will always be the cornerstone of any job search. Richmond folks aren’t usually the type to sit around and let bad times get the better of them, so that’s why new methods for meeting people are cropping up all over the place.
One event, that takes place tomorrow morning, is called “Get Back To Work, Richmond. A Reality Check On Employment”. Typically networking events have had much softer titles, but times are tough and it no longer pays to be subtle. In fact, this isn’t being billed as a job fair but as a ‘realistic look at the job market’.
“People work hard on their resumes and attend countless job fairs,” says CBS 6 Joblink Director Connie Salinas. “Get Back to Work, Richmond will let attendees focus and gain the tools they need to find employment in this tough economy.”
Tomorrow at the Jefferson Hotel of Franklin Street, the morning will be filled with a no-holds barred format that honestly looks at where the openings are and how people can find them. Specific sessions will focus on healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, and green technologies. While there is a fifteen dollar fee to register, there is no charge for parking and a light continental breakfast will be served. Register on CBS6jobLink.com.
Another method, called speed networking, is a practical approach to getting as many people to meet each other as possible. Instead of speed dating, where people meet each other individually, this set-up has groups of people sitting around a table and introducing themselves during the allotted time. The emphasis is on professional backgrounds and career aspirations, and not so much walks on the beach and favorite romantic comedies. “We thought the biggest benefit of this would be the volume of people that would be allowed to meet each other, but it also turns out people are much more comfortable at a table with others rather than one on one,” says Mike Ogilvey, founder of Ignite Speed Networking.
Ignite Speed Networking recently hosted a successful event at Richmond’s BizLinc and had over seventy-five participants take part. All of the logistics are made possible by a software program written by the company’s founders. Before the event takes place they plan out seating charts that allow dozens of people to rotate to new groups with very little repeats. “We rely on serendipity to get people matched up,” says Ogilvey. “I don’t really subscribe to the idea that you have to be matched on keywords. You might have a connection with someone that a computer program wouldn’t pick up on.”
As for what to say at these networking events, check out the second installment of this series, “Networking For Nice People.”
BusinessBusiness
Networking Grows Up
By:
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Richmond.com
Published: September 28, 2009
Published: September 28, 2009
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Director Connie Salinas,
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