Is Follow-up the Secret to Success?

By Jason Alba
Career Transition Editor

You know what we, as job seekers, hate? I mean really, really hate!

When recruiters, HR and hiring managers don’t follow up with us. That is one of the top complaints I hear throughout the country.

We send resumes in and we never hear back!

We leave voice mails and we don’t get a return call!

We shoot off e-mails and we don’t get a reply!

How disgusting! How rude! How inconsiderate!

How common it is to not follow-up. The funny thing is, I didn’t follow-up much in my job search. I was as bad as “they” were at following-up. And I hear from recruiters and hiring managers and HR that if we would just follow-up with a simple card, e-mail, or letter, we would really stand out.

Same thing with networking… if we would simply send a follow-up note, we would really stand out. Yet many of us don’t do it. Why not? Don’t want to inconvenience someone? It doesn’t matter – they’ll appreciate it, and you’ll definitely stand out. My advice is to keep the follow-up short.

I recently read a blog post by networking and job coach extraordinaire Alexandra Levit titled The Secret of My Success. She quickly dispels the idea that she’s going to brag about a lot of personal success, and states that her secret is to simply follow-up within 24 hours. That’s it.

Think about how you will stand out, be remembered, and put yourself forefront on other people’s minds. How powerful. How different. How important.

Alexandra suggests you take an hour a day to follow-up. This might sound like a lot, but it would ensure that you do follow-up, and perhaps it will help ensure the rest of your day is well-structured so you can take that hour. This might just result in a more effective day!

Can you be better at following-up? Shoot me an e-mail and share your follow-up success stories with me!

Jason Alba is the CEO and creator of JibberJobber.com, and author of “I’m on LinkedIn – Now What???” After a corporate downsizing impacted Jason in 2006, he experienced firsthand the difficulties of conducting a job search. Drawing on his extensive computer software and IT experience, Jason analyzed the job search process and developed JibberJobber.com, the gold standard in career management technology.

Widely acknowledged as a leading career management evangelist, Jason continues to spread the word to job seekers through his blog, JibberJobber.com/blog. He is co-author of “I’m on Facebook – Now What???”and offers tutorials on how to fulfill the role of being CEO of You, Inc.

Jason Alba is: CEO of JibberJobber.com Author of I’m on LinkedIn – Now What??? Co-author of I’m on Facebook – Now What??? Founder of CEO Training for Me Inc.

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Is Follow-up the Secret to Success?

Late Bloomer

By Danielle Lum
Hawaii Bureau Chief

If today’s Ric Cornell could give advice to 18-year-old Ric Cornell, it would be to “start building your networks early.” He laments, “Outside my family, I didn’t have a network until I was 37!”

The then cocky 18-year-old know-it-all didn’t see the need for any networking. As a self-proclaimed “military brat,” Ric Cornell’s first job was stocking shelves in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) store in Honolulu while he was still in high school. With his “whatever it takes” attitude, he soon moved from a part time position to full time, then continued to move up the ladder. In record time, he was the youngest AAFES store manager in Hawaii. His work ethic was all he needed to further his career.

“What I didn’t know then was that a network could provide me with all sorts of information that I didn’t have,” says Cornell. “There is great benefit in knowing where to turn and a network would have helped me tremendously.”

His AAFES work soon led him to Johnson Island as an assistant manager. But the political and economical landscape soon escorted him out of AAFES and into a company that carried out government contracts. When operations on the island shut down in 2003, Cornell headed back to Honolulu where he tried his hand at his own business.

“I spent 12 years overseas. I had no network and no connections,” says Cornell. “I finally joined Business Networking International (BNI) to start building a network. It was around that same time that I concluded my business was not working well and I needed to find something else.”

Although BNI could not help with the business he was in, it led him to QMerchant Solutions, a credit card processing company. He began as an agent and then worked his way up. He is now president of the company.

Cornell laughs and blames his success on a character flaw, “I tend to take charge.” He also acknowledges that 80% of his business is generated through referrals and word of mouth marketing. “BNI helped me develop contacts and find referral partners.”

Cornell expanded his networks by serving as an Ambassador to other BNI chapters of BNI and later worked as a BNI area director. As an area director he helped to create four chapters and assumed responsibility for two others.

Networking vs Needworking

He says the key to networking is staying in touch when you’re busy and business is good. “We all know people who only call or email when they need something,” Cornell says. “That’s needworking. It’s very different than networking.”

To avoid “needworking,” Cornell takes time to keep in contact with the people in his network. “I have the strongest connections with the groups and people with whom I meet most frequently,” he says.

With others, Cornell maintains connections with a phone call, selected email, or mailed card. “I try to keep it flowing,” he says. “Just touch base with people and follow up on promises.”

He cautions people about email indiscriminately. “Be selective about the types of emails you forward. Be sure that the recipient will be able to benefit from the content of the email. That way you become a valued source of information. Otherwise you could be labeled a nuisance,” he says.

And what happens if he neglects his networks?

“Business falls off and I find myself having a lot of free time.”

Sage Advice

Most recently, he began teaching effective networking techniques with the Referral Institute. His best advice for networkers is to find a good, structured networking group. “It doesn’t have to be BNI,” he says. “Whatever organization you choose, make sure it is structured because it will help learn and develop the right habits.”

He also recommends taking a class in networking. “Not sales,” he says. “Networking. There is a big difference.”

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Late Bloomer

TNNW: Week of June 29, 2008

Hello, I'm new. Let's talk.
By BRUCE NEWMAN, Mid-Atlantic Bureau Chief
As this is my first article as the new mid-Atlantic Bureau Chief, I would like to introduce myself and explain how I plan to use my monthly column. I have over 25 years of experience in business (please see my bio) and believe that good communications are essential to the success of any project or company. Networking is an important component that when done properly, can produce excellent results and if applicable, significant gains in productivity.

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By MEIRA FINDEL, Health and Wellness Editor
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Best Practices of Multicultural Networking
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LinkedIn is a great tool, not only for connections, but for asking some great questions. I had the opportunity to ask the questions "What do you see are some of the best practices of Multicultural Networking?" From the U.S., to Germany, the Philippines, India and China here are some of the responses:

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How Many Women Does It Take To Change the World's Collective Dream?
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By PATRICIA PARHAM, Ph.D., Contributing Writer
PowerNetworking is High Profile - You want to be seen – first and always making a strong, positive impression. It is about being centered in who you are and the values which guide and ground you and being focused on what you want and where you’re going with a sense of confidence, ease and grace. Always pull up those behind you and push up those before you and these same energies will work also for your good.

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TNNW: Week of June 29, 2008