Comments on: Meet People, Get a Job (Even If You’re An Introvert) http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/ Everything About Money You Were Too Polite To Ask Fri, 24 May 2013 01:20:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John E. Hall@twitter http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-34602 John E. Hall@twitter Fri, 08 Feb 2013 21:32:29 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-34602 I started life as a shy person. Then I got older and discovered I'm like the candy bar. "Sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't" I appreciate the post--networking and self-promotion has always been challenging for me. Thanks! I started life as a shy person. Then I got older and discovered I’m like the candy bar. “Sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don’t” I appreciate the post–networking and self-promotion has always been challenging for me. Thanks!

]]> By: David Seidman@facebook http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-34006 David Seidman@facebook Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:21:11 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-34006 Excellent advice! I am currently reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain, but I'm not getting through it all that quickly. I think your post, and the valuable comments, tell me all I need to know. Excellent advice! I am currently reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain, but I’m not getting through it all that quickly. I think your post, and the valuable comments, tell me all I need to know.

]]> By: chic noir http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-33888 chic noir Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:53:30 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-33888 @chic noir For the record, I am unbelievably shy in person. What has helped me score jobs is for some reason most people seem to like me and older male coworkers seem to really like me. So much so, that when they are given a promotion or change companies, I am asked to come along. @chic noir For the record, I am unbelievably shy in person. What has helped me score jobs is for some reason most people seem to like me and older male coworkers seem to really like me. So much so, that when they are given a promotion or change companies, I am asked to come along.

]]> By: chic noir http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-33887 chic noir Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:43:21 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-33887 *pumps fist* I love Audrey Tautoo. *pumps fist*

I love Audrey Tautoo.

]]> By: Paola Mata@twitter http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-33840 Paola Mata@twitter Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:31:26 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-33840 Thanks so much for this article. I really struggle with this as well. I started going to Meetups recently, and I even started my own group, which will meet for the first time tomorrow. Not only can you make new connections, but you learn a lot from others. This sorta setup puts you into contact with people you'd normally not get a chance to speak with. So far, it's been fun! Thanks so much for this article. I really struggle with this as well. I started going to Meetups recently, and I even started my own group, which will meet for the first time tomorrow. Not only can you make new connections, but you learn a lot from others. This sorta setup puts you into contact with people you’d normally not get a chance to speak with. So far, it’s been fun!

]]> By: Bob Prosen@facebook http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-33777 Bob Prosen@facebook Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:10:16 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-33777 Landing a job in today’s economy requires you to think and act differently. If you’re wed to the traditional way of job-hunting you’re destined to compete with everyone else chasing the same few opportunities. The most effective way to get the job you want is to think like an employer. Sounds simple but many people don’t appreciate the importance or know how to do it. Before beginning your search you have to understand why all companies hire. It’s to solve problems and your challenge is to position yourself as the solution. In other words, hiring you allows the company to solve problems faster, better and cheaper than they could without you. Here’s how to start. Step 1 - Identify your skills and expertise. Step 2 - Find the companies you want to work for and research them to uncover their problems. Use the Internet, Google alerts, read press releases and speak with current and former employees. Your ability to uncover your target employers’ problems and position yourself as the solution is what will get you hired. Here are just a few potential problem areas. Completing projects on time and on budget, improve product quality, improve customer service, increase sales, reduce costs, enhance online marketing, etc. Step 3 – Identify the hiring manager. Step 4 – Create a personal marketing plan to get your solutions in the hands of the hiring manager. Step 5 – Develop a “One-Sheet” resume, to separate you from the crowd, along with a set of compelling cover letters that show your experience solving similar problems. Step 6 – Follow up is essential to getting an interview. Be persistent but not a pest. As a former executive with several Fortune companies I know how leaders think. People who have followed this process have gotten hired. Good luck and never give up! Bob Prosen – CEO The Prosen Center for Business Advancement www.mycareeraccelerator.com P.S. And yes, this works for recent college grads as well. P.S.S. Market yourself to the companies you want to work for whether or not they have an opening. Landing a job in today’s economy requires you to think and act differently. If you’re wed to the traditional way of job-hunting you’re destined to compete with everyone else chasing the same few opportunities.

The most effective way to get the job you want is to think like an employer. Sounds simple but many people don’t appreciate the importance or know how to do it.

Before beginning your search you have to understand why all companies hire. It’s to solve problems and your challenge is to position yourself as the solution. In other words, hiring you allows the company to solve problems faster, better and cheaper than they could without you. Here’s how to start.

Step 1 – Identify your skills and expertise.

Step 2 – Find the companies you want to work for and research them to uncover their problems. Use the Internet, Google alerts, read press releases and speak with current and former employees.

Your ability to uncover your target employers’ problems and position yourself as the solution is what will get you hired.

Here are just a few potential problem areas. Completing projects on time and on budget, improve product quality, improve customer service, increase sales, reduce costs, enhance online marketing, etc.

Step 3 – Identify the hiring manager.

Step 4 – Create a personal marketing plan to get your solutions in the hands of the hiring manager.

Step 5 – Develop a “One-Sheet” resume, to separate you from the crowd, along with a set of compelling cover letters that show your experience solving similar problems.

Step 6 – Follow up is essential to getting an interview. Be persistent but not a pest.

As a former executive with several Fortune companies I know how leaders think. People who have followed this process have gotten hired.

Good luck and never give up!

Bob Prosen –
CEO
The Prosen Center for Business Advancement
http://www.mycareeraccelerator.com

P.S. And yes, this works for recent college grads as well.
P.S.S. Market yourself to the companies you want to work for whether or not they have an opening.

]]> By: Meaux http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-33772 Meaux Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:57:14 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-33772 @Riaana. This sounds like just the book for me; thanks! @Riaana. This sounds like just the book for me; thanks!

]]> By: eemusings@twitter http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-33734 eemusings@twitter Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:53:35 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-33734 @Riaana I find myself much better at giving (advice to interns for example) than asking for help. @Riaana I find myself much better at giving (advice to interns for example) than asking for help.

]]> By: eemusings@twitter http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-33733 eemusings@twitter Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:52:17 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-33733 Die hard introvert here! I find if I think of it as just making friends/meeting interesting new people it's a lot less painful. (From there, interacting and helping each other out just flows.) And social media helps so much with that - at least in my field, everyone tends to be online a lot and pretty tech savvy, so connecting online first is a great way to start. Also, I read Self Promotion for Introverts a while ago (not especially enlightening, sadly) and one of the charts in there about introverts vs extroverts cracked me up so much (reproduced here: http://bit.ly/XcAqVp). Die hard introvert here! I find if I think of it as just making friends/meeting interesting new people it’s a lot less painful. (From there, interacting and helping each other out just flows.) And social media helps so much with that – at least in my field, everyone tends to be online a lot and pretty tech savvy, so connecting online first is a great way to start.

Also, I read Self Promotion for Introverts a while ago (not especially enlightening, sadly) and one of the charts in there about introverts vs extroverts cracked me up so much (reproduced here: http://bit.ly/XcAqVp).

]]> By: Riaana http://thebillfold.com/2013/02/meet-people-get-a-job-even-if-youre-an-introvert/#comment-33717 Riaana Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:12:40 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=22830#comment-33717 I read a book on this topic (because that's what introverts do to solve problems...) that had some of the same advice, and was also reasonably helpful, so you might check out 'Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected'. If nothing else, I took from this book that it's ok to be initially overwhelmed at the idea of being depending on asking other people for things, that baby steps are a fine way to slowly build up your network, and that part of your network will consist of people like you (so, some commiseration is forthcoming). I read a book on this topic (because that’s what introverts do to solve problems…) that had some of the same advice, and was also reasonably helpful, so you might check out ‘Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected’.

If nothing else, I took from this book that it’s ok to be initially overwhelmed at the idea of being depending on asking other people for things, that baby steps are a fine way to slowly build up your network, and that part of your network will consist of people like you (so, some commiseration is forthcoming).

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