Good Signs for 2012
Over the last few months I’ve made presentations at area job seeker’s groups and corporate outplacement companies to nearly 1,000 people in transition. The bad news is that there were nearly 1,000 people at the presentations (this is one of those situations where I would have welcomed a smaller audience!).
The good news (which never seems to make it to the various news media), is that virtually all of the leaders/directors of these groups and the employees at the outplacement firms report that people are landing new positions in nearly half of the time that it was taking just a year ago..!
Over the last twelve months, our company has co-sponsored a networking event with a local restaurant. The average number of attendees has remained somewhat the same, but that is because many who have landed new jobs come back to help those still in transition…they’re “paying it forward”.
I’ve heard the following statement dozens of times from people who find new employment after being in transition for a few months (or more), “I never realized how difficult it would be to find a new job after being laid off and I want to keep coming back to this job seekers/networking group and help those who are still here.” Kudos to those folks…they “get it”.
College graduates learn, over time, how valuable it can be to network with alumni in their industry or geography. Often, no matter how long it’s been since a person has graduated, reaching out to someone from your alma mater results in a quick return call/email. Job seekers are learning that there is also a growing number of “transition alumni” out there (and now employed) who are committed to providing them assistance (i.e., informational interviews, networking meetings, connections to decision makers within their companies…etc).
Unfortunately, this new and significant resource for job seekers is under-utilized. Although more job seekers’ groups are doing some record keeping regarding their alumni, there is room for improvement. This is another case where you never want to assume…Ask the staff at the corporate outplacement firm you are using/used or the directors of the job seekers’ group(s) you attend if they can provide you with contact information for their respective “alumni”. Never pass up an opportunity to make a good networking contact! And, remember – these folks have walked in your shoes and felt your pain…they’ll be more willing to help you than someone who has never been through a forced job transition.
• So, if you have not yet attended a meeting of a local job club/job seekers’ group – do so, as it is well worth the time (of course, remember that you’ll only get out of these groups what you put into the effort).
• If you are attending job club meetings or networking events – invest the time to do some meaningful networking with the others in attendance, the group’s director(s) and the invited speakers.
• If you have “graduated” from the job club circuit as a result of landing a new job – please consider returning to the group every so often to provide assistance to those still in transition and “pay it forward”.
All that said, I must take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to all of those folks who have volunteered their time to form, direct and maintain the job seekers’ groups and job clubs that have sprung up in nearly every city and town. You truly are unsung heroes..!! Quietly (few if any of the directors of these organizations ever take credit for their tireless efforts) these groups have played a significant role in the overall success enjoyed by the growing legion of “former” job seekers.
Thank you..!!
The good news (which never seems to make it to the various news media), is that virtually all of the leaders/directors of these groups and the employees at the outplacement firms report that people are landing new positions in nearly half of the time that it was taking just a year ago..!
Over the last twelve months, our company has co-sponsored a networking event with a local restaurant. The average number of attendees has remained somewhat the same, but that is because many who have landed new jobs come back to help those still in transition…they’re “paying it forward”.
I’ve heard the following statement dozens of times from people who find new employment after being in transition for a few months (or more), “I never realized how difficult it would be to find a new job after being laid off and I want to keep coming back to this job seekers/networking group and help those who are still here.” Kudos to those folks…they “get it”.
College graduates learn, over time, how valuable it can be to network with alumni in their industry or geography. Often, no matter how long it’s been since a person has graduated, reaching out to someone from your alma mater results in a quick return call/email. Job seekers are learning that there is also a growing number of “transition alumni” out there (and now employed) who are committed to providing them assistance (i.e., informational interviews, networking meetings, connections to decision makers within their companies…etc).
Unfortunately, this new and significant resource for job seekers is under-utilized. Although more job seekers’ groups are doing some record keeping regarding their alumni, there is room for improvement. This is another case where you never want to assume…Ask the staff at the corporate outplacement firm you are using/used or the directors of the job seekers’ group(s) you attend if they can provide you with contact information for their respective “alumni”. Never pass up an opportunity to make a good networking contact! And, remember – these folks have walked in your shoes and felt your pain…they’ll be more willing to help you than someone who has never been through a forced job transition.
• So, if you have not yet attended a meeting of a local job club/job seekers’ group – do so, as it is well worth the time (of course, remember that you’ll only get out of these groups what you put into the effort).
• If you are attending job club meetings or networking events – invest the time to do some meaningful networking with the others in attendance, the group’s director(s) and the invited speakers.
• If you have “graduated” from the job club circuit as a result of landing a new job – please consider returning to the group every so often to provide assistance to those still in transition and “pay it forward”.
All that said, I must take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to all of those folks who have volunteered their time to form, direct and maintain the job seekers’ groups and job clubs that have sprung up in nearly every city and town. You truly are unsung heroes..!! Quietly (few if any of the directors of these organizations ever take credit for their tireless efforts) these groups have played a significant role in the overall success enjoyed by the growing legion of “former” job seekers.
Thank you..!!
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