Networking your way to a new job

By MedZilla Staff Writer

Marysville, WA - June 11, 2004--You've been terminated. Your throat closes up and you imagine yourself and your family at the street's edge with cans in your hands asking for money.

Those scary images are not what you need to be thinking about the minute you get the bad news. Rather, your thinking process should shift immediately to an effective way to conduct a successful job search. That "process" revolves around networking.

"Networking is the single most effective and important element in your job search," says Frank Heasley, PhD, president and CEO of MedZilla.com, a leading Internet recruitment and professional community that serves biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and science. "Networking requires thought, research, strategy and time. It's more than sitting back and waiting for people to contact you. It's more than checking newspaper ads, responding to them, posting your resume and contacting recruiters. In networking, you have to go out and find and make a lasting impression on specific people within the industry of your choice and in related industries."

Networking: It might not be what you think

Networking is more than shaking hands and passing out business cards at a professional gathering. It often requires researching which companies might need someone with your talents, skills and experience. It means contacting people who are plugged into your industry and have a sense for which companies are hiring and which are not.

Finally, networking means contacting those key people (think of them as your informants) and talking with them, not about asking for a job, but rather asking their advice about who to contact and how to contact the right people. If a recruiter has ever contacted you, you probably noticed when they asked if you were not interested in a specific position, did you know anyone else who might be. That's networking. In networking, every conversation should result in more contacts.

Remember, your being employed has taken you out of the mainstream. You've been sheltered and might not be aware of changes in the industry-changes in thinking, hiring practices and hiring trends. Your informants will generally be decision makers-people who have their fingers on the pulse of the industry. People in management and other executives tend to make the best informants.

Many plates in the air.... Keep a log

Networking should be a big part of your job search, according to Dr. Heasley. Don't forget, however, to try the traditional methods of keeping an eye on posted and advertised positions in newspapers, magazines and the Web. Post your resume on niche sites, devoted to your and similar industries. In addition, follow up on leads from advertisements and recruiters.

An aggressive job search might require that you tap different search methods simultaneously.

, MedZilla's director of marketing, suggests that you keep a log of your job search activities, including making notes about leads from advertisements (such as how and when you responded to those leads), recording where you've posted your resumes and which recruiters, you have called or have called you.

"Some people haphazardly go through the job search process, forgetting what they've done and without getting the most out of their efforts," Groutage says. "The job search log helps you plan your next move. For example, you might note that it's time to follow up with one of your leads and take that person for a cup of coffee. Part of the log is recording your experiences; making notes of your discussion with that lead and what that person suggested you do next."

Networking with a letter

You probably already have a resume, but do you have a networking letter? The networking letter, which asks for a person's advice, is different from a cover letter, which asks for a specific job.

Your networking letter should match your personality and style. Its purpose is to communicate that you value the recipient's opinion and request his or her help in your job search. Ask that the recipient provide you with any names, people, or companies that might be interested in someone with your background. (Don't forget to attach a copy of your resume.)

Direct your networking letter to people at companies or within industries that are responsible for hiring people with backgrounds that are similar to yours.

Make sure the letter is well written and free of grammatical and spelling goofs. Customize it for each recipient to the point that the person getting it will feel like you've done your research and are serious about following up on his or her suggestions.

After you've mailed it, wait a week or two before following up on the letter. You might find that it takes a few phone calls to get through to your lead, or potential informant, but don't give up. It's amazing how many targeted leads can be generated from one good resource.

"One of the most important parts of good networking is not dropping the ball," Dr. Heasley says. "People are busy, but usually not too busy to help someone who seems serious and is qualified. It just takes some time and persistence-that's what networking is all about."

About MedZilla.com
Established in mid 1994, MedZilla is the original web site to serve career and hiring needs for professionals and employers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, science and healthcare. MedZilla databases contain about 10,000 open positions, 13,000 resumes from candidates actively seeking new positions and 71,000 archived resumes.

Medzilla® is a Registered Trademark owned by Medzilla Inc. Copyright ©2004, MedZilla, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce and distribute this text in its entirety, and if electronically, with a link to the URL www.medzilla.com. For permission to quote from or reproduce any portion of this message, please contact MedZilla, Inc. Email: press@medzilla.com.