The Director’s Chair

HAPPY SEPTEMBER…BUT where the heck did the time go? Seems like the school year just started, but now almost 20 percent of that school year is behind us. I heard the word “holidays” used in a planning meeting last week. Time to be productive now!

Speaking of which, our September newsletter addresses the topic of networking, which many people find uncomfortable. Whether or not you’re one of those people, I recommend that you check out this article, which explores the subject in a way that we don’t usually see.

My perspective is that there are lots of reasons we network. Sometimes it’s totally social and for fun, and might better be called “mingling.” Because the fact is, most networking is for a purpose. That purpose might be to meet new friends and build new relationships. It could be that you’re looking for a job or looking to hire someone. Or you could be in sales and are scouting for new prospects. For Apprenticely, all of those purposes contribute to our purpose for networking. We want to let as many people as possible know that we can help employers fill the skills they need. We also want to spread the word that we can help individual Arkansans—of all ages and backgrounds—find careers with better-paying jobs. Networking is one way we create the intersections of collaboration that help support and further that mission.

Since Apprenticely “rings the bell” whenever an employer and an individual candidate shake hands on a new fulltime job, I want to share a networking technique that improves the odds for that result—a technique that can help you get the results you want as well. Write down the name of everyone who knows you. Then go see them one-on-one, letting them know what you’re looking for, and, if they can’t help directly, ask to be introduced to two people you don’t know. Start seeing those people one-on-one, and continue that process until you find someone who knows someone who needs you on their team.

I can tell you from long experience, that process yields results. Yes, it’s a lot of work, and it’s also humbling. But the best way to find a job is to make that your job—and building a network increases the level of awareness much to your benefit.

We’d love to hear your own input and ideas.

–Bill Yoder
Executive Director