Networking meetings are critical to your success in getting into the hidden job market. Phone meetings are fine but don’t miss an opportunity to have a real meeting whenever you can.

Here is a checklist of 8 mistakes that could cause them to regret agreeing to meet with you.

Read more here.

It goes without saying that as a job seeker getting into the hidden job market, you must create a networking opportunities with those at the right level and in the right position to hire you. At the same time, you can significantly accelerate your search by networking with people who might not initially seem to fit that criteria.

Consider networking with people who are outside your function and at least one level above you.

Here are some of the advantages of this strategy:

• You will learn the language of a different function and how to translate all the great things you did and can do for a hiring company into terms that will resonate with senior management. The language of most executives is financial, yet it may not be easy to translate what you’ve done into financial terms. You may not have previously been able to identify the financial impact of things like improving employee satisfaction, developing new training programs, bringing projects in on time, etc., or even things like doing layoffs without any employee suing the company.

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It's hard to ignore how important networking is to your job search. But not everyone jumps right in with enthusiasm. If you find networking intimidating, this warm up might help you get into this essential job search habit.  

You will probably find, as I did, that networking is what gets you into the hidden job market. It can be the key to a faster job search. Plus the connections you make now just might help you find jobs for the rest of your career.  

If you know you should be networking but are finding it difficult to get started, this list will help. You can start slowly. The key is just to start! And the best time is now.

Be sure to get your FREE networking scripts to help you talk to anyone! Just enter your name and email address in the box on the right, and you'll be calling with confidence right away!

So here are seven easy warm up steps:

1.      Make three improvements to your linked in profile (add your picture, join an industry or function group where you can meet people and make contributions to the discussions, add your brand statement as a part of your title, add your email and phone #, etc). 

2.      Call 2 old friends or people you used to work with just to catch up.  It's ok to let people know you're in job search, but focus on building relationships. The job leads will follow. Just picking up the phone will make all the difference! 

3.      Ask 3 people you are talking to about your search how you can help them (and resolve to always ask this question in the future).  

4.      Set 2 coffee dates to network with people you like. 

5.      Attend one meeting (of any size) where there will be people at the level who can hire you. Get at least two cards and follow up with a call the next day to set up a meeting just to get to know them. 

6.      Find someone at a company where you would like to work, and call to get to know a little about them and the company.  

7.      Find someone you're connected to on Linked in who, based on their title, would be at a hiring manager level for the kind of position you are looking for. Call them to see if they will spend a few minutes giving you their thoughts/advice/perspective on your search.

Article originally posted on: 

http://www.jobsdirectusa.com/blog/2010/08/hidden-job-market-job-search-networking-7-step-warm-up/