Job search tip of the day: Meet someone new

Many job seekers feel isolated.  As adults, we structure our days around our work and evaluate our self by what we do and how we do it.  If you have lost your job due to injury or are out of work and seeking employment, you may not have the opportunities for positive social feedback you did when you were working.

Just being acknowledge by a smile or nod is positive social feedback.  If you are out of work, you may need to go out of your way to meet someone new - don't just introduce yourself and move on.  This strategy will do little or nothing to further your cause.  What is your cause?  To meet someone new AND step away with each of you knowing at least your full name and a little something about each other.

To illustrate:  My husband and I were at an event for a business celebrating their first year anniversary.  He said to me, "George is here."  At a loss, I asked, "George who?"  No answer.  "Will I recognize him?" and from my husband, "Yes."

I looked over his shoulder, "Oh, that guy!"  I recognized him as someone we run into throughout the region, but whom we only know as George.  A friend came up and greeted us.  "Hey, did you see that guy George is here?"

Will filled him in on our cavernous knowledge of him and our friend agreed, "I see him everywhere, too. He is in sales or marketing or something and tries to glad hand himself around.  You know to get contacts."

Before we knew it, George himself walked over greeted me warmly and shook my hand.  He proceeded to chat up my two male companions on his way to the men's room.  Are knowledge was not increased by this exchange and he will continue to be known to us all as That-Guy-George.

Don't be That-Guy-George!  Go out of your way to meet and get to know someone today.  If you can do this every day, so much the better.  Meeting someone knew can do a few things to help you in your job search:

1. Give you something else to think about besides your job search.
2. Stimulate your brain 
3. Keep your social skills fresh
4. It may give you the opportunity to help him or her with an issue he or she may have
5. It may be that this person can help you in your job search or with another issue
6. Help you feel connected
7. Give you something else to talk about besides your job search, "Guess who I met..."

For ideas on how to meet other people see my other articles on volunteering, taking a walk, networking and others.  Here is a short list to get you started:

Injured Worker Help Desk: Job Search Tip of the Day: Make a list of ...

Aug 10, 2012

Set aside a couple of hours one day a week to network with those people on your list that you feel might: ... As LinkedIn is the biggest professional social network in the world and is a proven tool for building business, ch.

http://www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com/

Injured Worker Help Desk: Volunteer to Work

Jul 16, 2012

You may never have had the opportunity to use or practice skills employers are looking for. Volunteering may be just the way to get the skills you need to be competitive. 3. Network with people you wouldn't normally come into ...

http://www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com/

Injured Worker Help Desk: Monday Mission April 30, 2012

Apr 30, 2012

linkedinadvice.com - Insightful ways to improve your profile and grow your LinkedIn job search network. As LinkedIn is the biggest professional social network in the world and is a proven tool for building business, ch.

http://www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com/

Injured Worker Help Desk: Who will pluck the chickens?

May 18, 2012

Expanding your network, knowledge, skills, experience; Providing the opportunity to think about an plan your future career path. As far as I know of not liking your job options or even your job never killed anyone. We have all ...

http://www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com/

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