How do I turn job inquiries into good networking opportunities?
November 30, 2011 10:30 AM Subscribe
How to turn down job inquiries while making sure I build good relationships that I can call on in the future?
It seems that as of late, everyone wants (to hire) me. Which is, hey, flattering, and this is the first time in my career that I've had so many people interested in speaking to me about job opportunities. These aren't just head hunters, though some are, some are strangers that found me either through my portfolio or linked in, others are friends or acquaintances or former bosses and coworkers.
However, I'm just not looking to change jobs right now. Is that enough to say? Do I offer to interview anyway (which I hate doing) with the subtext of "hey, I'm not looking, but I'd love to talk to you just in case."
Additionally, some of the requests are for job types I'm not interested in - either I've surpassed those jobs or they're related but not quite what I'm doing or want to be doing. And if I were to be interested, it would probably have to be an upward career move, not the same place I am now. So do I address that? Or since I'm not interested either way, just ignore that part? Example, if it makes a different: I'm a jack of all trades ux/ui/ixd/web designer, and I know quite a bit of javascript. Someone asked me if I'd be interested in being a ui engineer because they knew of my coding skills. But it doesn't interest me because there would be no visual design. However, even if were the type of job I'd be interested in, I'm not interested in it now.
Sorry this question is probably very basic, but this is the first time in my career I've had so many inquiries of this type, and I'd rather use it as an opportunity to build on in the future. Networking has never been my strong point as a geeky introvert, so I'm not sure how to do this right.
It seems that as of late, everyone wants (to hire) me. Which is, hey, flattering, and this is the first time in my career that I've had so many people interested in speaking to me about job opportunities. These aren't just head hunters, though some are, some are strangers that found me either through my portfolio or linked in, others are friends or acquaintances or former bosses and coworkers.
However, I'm just not looking to change jobs right now. Is that enough to say? Do I offer to interview anyway (which I hate doing) with the subtext of "hey, I'm not looking, but I'd love to talk to you just in case."
Additionally, some of the requests are for job types I'm not interested in - either I've surpassed those jobs or they're related but not quite what I'm doing or want to be doing. And if I were to be interested, it would probably have to be an upward career move, not the same place I am now. So do I address that? Or since I'm not interested either way, just ignore that part? Example, if it makes a different: I'm a jack of all trades ux/ui/ixd/web designer, and I know quite a bit of javascript. Someone asked me if I'd be interested in being a ui engineer because they knew of my coding skills. But it doesn't interest me because there would be no visual design. However, even if were the type of job I'd be interested in, I'm not interested in it now.
Sorry this question is probably very basic, but this is the first time in my career I've had so many inquiries of this type, and I'd rather use it as an opportunity to build on in the future. Networking has never been my strong point as a geeky introvert, so I'm not sure how to do this right.
Well, first, you always want to convey that you are "always looking" and thank them for looking out for you.
Second, you can dismiss them in any number of ways:
-I am working on a really interesting project right now, I want to see it through
-They have treated me really well here, it would take something special to make me leave
-Tell me more about the role you are considering (then point out places where it does not fit your exact needs (even things like commute can come in here))
Third, do some research to find out who the best two or three headhunters in the area are. Take those meetings. You really want to be in their rolodex. Even if you do not take their job, offer them up something else (either someone else, or information, or anything else you think will make their lives/jobs easier/better/more-successful).
Hustling (which this is) can be hard for an introvert. Try to think of it mechanically like this. You have the opposite of this poster's problem... Hustling is what connects dots.
Best of luck!
posted by milqman at 12:56 PM on November 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
Second, you can dismiss them in any number of ways:
-I am working on a really interesting project right now, I want to see it through
-They have treated me really well here, it would take something special to make me leave
-Tell me more about the role you are considering (then point out places where it does not fit your exact needs (even things like commute can come in here))
Third, do some research to find out who the best two or three headhunters in the area are. Take those meetings. You really want to be in their rolodex. Even if you do not take their job, offer them up something else (either someone else, or information, or anything else you think will make their lives/jobs easier/better/more-successful).
Hustling (which this is) can be hard for an introvert. Try to think of it mechanically like this. You have the opposite of this poster's problem... Hustling is what connects dots.
Best of luck!
posted by milqman at 12:56 PM on November 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is an opportunity to help someone, maybe even someone you haven't met yet. And it's a chance to build your professional network. If you have a personal or professional website, make sure the address is in your signature, along with LinkedIn or other professional contact info.
Joe, thanks for contacting me; I'm flattered. I'm happy where I am right now, but I sometimes meet people in our field who are looking for jobs at companies like yours. May I give your name and email address out if I meet someone I think might be a good fit?
I hear you're working on RFV technology, and it sounds pretty interesting. Let me know if you'd like to have coffee/a drink sometime.
posted by theora55 at 4:06 PM on November 30, 2011
Joe, thanks for contacting me; I'm flattered. I'm happy where I am right now, but I sometimes meet people in our field who are looking for jobs at companies like yours. May I give your name and email address out if I meet someone I think might be a good fit?
I hear you're working on RFV technology, and it sounds pretty interesting. Let me know if you'd like to have coffee/a drink sometime.
posted by theora55 at 4:06 PM on November 30, 2011
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No, that would be a waste of everyone's time.
What you should do is refer these potential customers / employers to other friends, colleagues, former companies, or other affiliates of yours who you trust and who can probably help them get their work done. So for the person ("customer") who tried to hire you as a UI engineer, rack your brain for someone you know (and preferably, have worked with in a related capacity) and tell the customer "Hey, thanks for thinking of me, I'm not available to help you with that right now, but I've worked with ____ on projects similar to that and he/she might be able to."
This way you build up some positive feelings with both the potential customer and the vendor who ends up helping them out at your referral. Congratulations, you are networking and developing a professional reputation!
If you want to keep options open for the future, you might want to add something along the lines of "what I'm focusing on lately is XYZ and, while I'm pretty busy / otherwise engaged at the moment, it would be great to work with you at some point. Keep me in mind."
posted by rkent at 10:47 AM on November 30, 2011 [3 favorites]