Business cards can be traced back to the 1600’s in France during the reign of Louis XIV. They were first known as visiting cards and individuals wrote promissory notes and messages on blank cards. They later evolved into a business tool and a way for merchants to market their wares. Today business cards are still a tool of the trade and a way to leave an impression with a new personal or professional acquaintance.

If you work for an established organization chances are you utilize the business card as a networking tool with regularity. I highly recommend that those looking for employment should create personal business cards, also known as networking cards to ramp up the effectiveness of the professional relationship building process. This leave-behind tool can be what helps someone remember you and it provides your contact information which is critical in the follow-up process.

Job seekers should create a simple card with full name, cell phone, and email. If you have a niche market career path (lawyer, chef, accountant, etc.) then you can also include a title. Advanced degrees should be included if applicable to the career field you are pursuing. You should carry your cards everywhere you go and be ready to share them generously with new contacts.

There is no need to spend a lot on business cards. Vista Print has some very reasonable cards in a variety of styles or you can design your own using a Microsoft Word template. Have your template copied or printed onto cardstock and laser cut at your local copy store and you’ll be good to go. This way you can print small quantities at a time.

After I meet someone new, I write notes on the back of their business card to help me remember our interaction. Even in the technology driven world of social media, the business card is an effective tool that will never be obsolete. Exchanging cards in person leads to conversation and gives you an opportunity to showcase your personal brand and value-add. Business cards are the currency used in building new relationships – make sure you are packing this all important tool.

These unstable economic times make it especially tough for first time job seekers that are beginning to forge their career paths. It’s also tough for seasoned professionals that find themselves out of work with rising unemployment rates.

The truth is, in this economic climate sometimes you must take a job that won’t help you move up the rungs of your personal career ladder. In difficult times it’s more common than not for job seekers to take opportunities outside of their field, below their pay grade, and far removed from their dream job classification. Student loans, credit card debt, and the general cost of living cannot be put on hold when you are unemployed but that not-so-perfect job can be a stop gap measure to make ends meet – and that’s ok.

These are very emotional times for job seekers and career changers. I have seen many clients and students wrestling with depression and a roller coaster of highs and lows. Be sure to tap into your personal and professional resource group and find the support system you need. Give yourself permission to take the job that will help you stay afloat financially right now but don’t lose sight of your goals and aspirations. This bad economy is a moment in time and it too shall pass.

Landing your dream job is a journey. If you feel stuck in a position now without hope of getting out, remember that you should always be strategizing about ways to move forward. Continue to develop your network and be your own best advocate by showcasing your personal brand and value add to all those who will listen. The economy is also the perfect excuse for a future employer who questions an entry on your resume. You can easily showcase your resilience, ability to deal with adversity and change by explaining why you took a job that was outside of your field or level of experience. Employers know the realities of this economy too and they will applaud you for staying in the game.

As a fearless 19 year old, Gail Kasper moved to California from her native Philadelphia, alone, without a job, or a car but with plenty of ambition and a desire to learn. While her position in a graphics company paid the bills and provided excellent training, California was not in the cards long term. A few years later, Gail moved back to the east coast and landed a position in the Medical field working her way up from Secretary to Project Coordinator, and eventually to management with her own staff to supervise. But this was still not the career she ordered. Read Full Story

You’ve assembled your contact list and now it’s time to actually reach out to people in your network. You have a clear picture of your strengths, what you are looking for, and customized questions at-the-ready for your new professional contacts.

Here are best practices to lead you to success.

1. Stay Positive. Be prepared to speak with anyone who will listen; don’t be afraid of rejection. Be friendly and put yourself out there.
2. Search out a common denominator. Figure out the common interests you share with those with whom you speak. Build the conversation around that topic to get the ball rolling and ease nerves.
3. Take risks and reach out to some wish list contacts or join a networking group that could lead to something significant.
4. Ask open-ended questions in conversations. Ask questions about who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
5. Become known as a powerful resource for others. When you are known as a strong resource, people will turn to you for suggestions, ideas, and referrals. This keeps you visible to them and gives you a chance to give back.
6. Consider volunteering. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups that have helped you.
7. Make yourself useful. Reach out to others in a capacity where you can actually do something good and show off your skills at the same time. Join a board of a worthy organization; offer to take notes at a conference where people in your desired career sector will be, and look for opportunities to solve problems.
8. Be gracious and always thank the people (in writing) who have been helpful. Stewarding relationships in your network is essential for your professional reputation and it’s most appreciated.

Networking is the practice of building and stewarding professional relationships that you will use throughout your career and it will also introduce you to the wonders of the hidden job market.

Networking is a word that often strikes fear in many job seekers. You might feel especially nervous if you are one of those people that claim you don’t know anyone. The point of networking is to develop your community and gather information. It’s about being genuine, authentic, and building trust and relationships with the idea that some day you will be able to pay-it-forward and help others. It’s not about asking for a job.

Here are some strategies for getting started:

1. Ask yourself what your goals are in developing networking relationships so that you can seek out individuals that will help you gather relevant information.
2. Have a plan. Be well organized as you develop your network. Track the people you meet with on a spreadsheet or calendar and plan for timely follow-ups.
3. Know your personal brand. Have a clear understanding of what you do well and what makes you special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must be able to articulate what your special sauce is to others.
4. Know what you want. Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you.
5. Look to your existing contacts first. The best place to start is not with cold calling or a blind email campaign. Reach out to the people you already know! These people form the base of your networking foundation and will lead you to referrals.
6. Tap into your online networks. Let your contacts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn know that you’re job-hunting and update your online profiles regularly.
7. As you gain momentum, move from the people you know in-person and online to people you haven’t met before. Reach out to referrals you collect from your existing contacts. Ask for an informational interview or job shadow opportunity and be sure to thank the new contact as well as the person who referred you.
8. Make a phone call whenever possible. Distinguish yourself by connecting in a more personal way than with an introductory email. Be prepared to leave an articulate message that includes your contact information. The objective is to eventually meet in-person.

The most important piece of advice is to get out there and start meeting people. You will gain confidence as you continue to sharpen this skill but there is no time like the present to get started. May the networking force be with you!

Carla Falcone and Romy Taormina met at an award-winning advertising agency on California’s Central Coast and became fast friends many years ago. Carla has an extensive background in public relations and advertizing and earned degrees in journalism and industrial arts. Romy has an in-depth knowledge of marketing and earned a business degree. 

These women have extensive experience strategizing, creating, and executing multimedia campaigns for a myriad of clients in a variety of industries. But, their entrepreneurial spirit blossomed after both women experienced ongoing morning sickness during their respective pregnancies. In fact, at Carla’s baby shower the two were commiserating about the drab gray acupressure wrist bands that were helping Carla keep her morning sickness at bay. She was no longer nauseous but the dull wristbands did nothing to enhance her adorable maternity outfit! Read Full Story

Years ago, before the internet became mainstream – networking was an expected ritual for the job seeker. Candidates pounded the pavement and reached out to those they knew to develop leads for job opportunities. It was the norm to get out and meet people and talk about what you were looking for, what you did well, and how your strengths could serve an organization well.

Today, too many people are hiding behind technology and waiting for the myriad of jobs they apply for online to turn into an offer. In reality, 80% (yes, it’s true!) of jobs remain in the invisible job market. They are never posted publicly because organizations look to their extended networks to hire people whom they know and trust.

So if you are spending the bulk of your time on the web you need to get out more! Start meeting with people in-the-know in your circle of trust and get the inside scoop about what organizations are looking for. Ask your warm network for referrals to build new relationships that may be closer to the industry in which you are seeking employment. In a competitive job market this more important than ever.

Dress the part and get out and dust off your verbal communication skills by meeting with people. Visibility and knowing what your personal brand is are your two best strategies in the job search. I’ve been on the recruiting side of the equation and I would much rather hire someone who came highly recommended by someone in my network than someone who blindly submitted application materials.

I’ll be talking about Networking Boot Camp in future posts since I know this concept paralyzes some people with fear. Trust me – it’s not that difficult and it works.

A native of Australia, Jacqui Rosshandler now calls New York City home and is enjoying a new career as CEO and Co-Founder of Jacquean Products. Trained as a lawyer, Jacqui never felt at home in the structured corporate world and took an entrepreneurial leap on New Year’s Day in 2007 when she summoned the courage to give her new business idea a whirl. Nine months later, she had her new product in hand. Read Full Story

Olympians and professional athletes at the top of their game have been utilizing coaches for decades so why have professionals in the world-of-work taken so long to catch up? A coach stands on the side lines and gives you input and objectivity that you cannot effectively produce yourself. You should hire a coach because you want to get better at what you are already good at.

A good coach will help you discover what you need and provide you with a strategic action plan, motivation, and accountability to accomplish your goals. While change in the workplace is inevitable, suffering is optional and a coach can help you unlock what you are passionate about and help you move forward if you are contemplating a career transition or professional reinvention.

Coaches can provide you with opportunities to own your self confidence and play to your strengths. A great coach once told me that individuals bloom when they decide to ride their horse in the direction it is already going.

Shop wisely for a coach and be aware that the industry standard is to provide for a free consultation to learn about their services and to determine if it’s a good fit for you. Use your intuitive and perceptive senses to gut check whether a prospective coach is a good match for what you need. This is an investment in your career and your life so look for someone you can trust, that comes well recommended (check references) and provides a complimentary consultation so you can get to know each other before you sign up.

Coaches specialize in a wide variety of services including, personal branding, executive development, communications, entrepreneurial ventures, social media, and leadership enhancement, to name just a few. Be sure to find a coach that specializes in what you need most. There is a niche market ripe with coaches dedicated to all areas of expertise. Find one who is a specialist and not a jack-of-all-trades to get the most focused coaching experience possible.

Q:  I’m looking for a new job because I was recently laid off. Everyone has told me I need to network but I am panic stricken about doing the wrong thing because I’ve never networked before. What are the rules and guidelines for good networking?

A:  Think of networking as building your community and as an opportunity to develop professional relationships. The number one rule is not to ask for a job when you network. This puts your contact on the defensive and can make for a very uncomfortable conversation.

The key is to ask for information from your contacts and be prepared to talk about what you are looking for when it comes up in the conversation. Even in a thriving job market, 90% of jobs are filled by referrals because employers hire who they know and trust. Building and stewarding your network will make you visible to people who may be able to recommend you for a position at some point in time.

Here are some basic rules to networking:

• Do your research and ask relevant questions of the people with whom you connect. Seek out people in a field or organization that interests you and do your due diligence to learn something about them before you meet. Start with warm leads and ask for referrals.
• For your initial contact try calling instead of emailing and be prepared to leave a brief and articulate voice mail with your contact info and the reason for your call.
• Don’t stalk your contacts, some people will not respond due to lack of time or interest. Move on if they don’t reply to your first 2-3 attempts and don’t take it personally.  There are other people out there who will be helpful – find them.
• Steward the relationships you build and be sure to keep in touch and thank them for sharing their time and expertise.
• When you do land a job, be sure to tell the people who have helped you along the way. Offer to be of assistance if they need information down the road.  Willingness to pay-it-forward is a great quality in a networker.

Networking isn’t just for job seekers. You can network to find information about a variety of things such as a great restaurant, feedback on a childcare provider or insight about a neighborhood where you are contemplating a home purchase, for example.  Build your community and you will find a wealth of information at your disposal.