Use holiday gatherings to fire up job search, gain confidence

According to a recent Linkedin survey, 85 percent of people find their next job through some form of networking. With the holidays approaching, I find myself once again thinking about the role that friends and family can play for someone who is looking to make a career change. I always advise my clients looking for a job to broaden their network and spend a lot of time talking with others about what they do and gather their perspectives on opportunities. Who better — or less intimidating — to start with than the friends and family you will be talking with at various holidays gatherings?

Imagine a Blue Bloods-like dinner conversation where you happen to ask Aunt Sue what’s new at her banking job, or cousin Henry about how he closed that big year-end sales deal. Not only can this be a conversation starter, but it can give you the opportunity to say things like “I am thinking about looking for a new job in health care but don’t know where to start,” or “What do you do in digital marketing and how would I get into that field?”

Those closest to us can also shed light on attributes they think we have, that are valuable in their industry or in the workplace in general. Be bold and ask a family friend what they think you might be good at, and then follow it up with a request to come talk after the holidays, maybe meet some others in their office. Use friends and family to really bounce ideas around with and to gain insight about your next move. Then use that insight to explore or open up conversations with acquaintances that you might encounter over the holidays.

Try setting a goal for each gathering — for instance you might say “At this luncheon, I want to make sure to meet Kate, who I’ve heard just took a new position.” Or, “At our neighborhood open house, I want to talk to three different neighbors who are in technology and ask them about new start-ups they have heard about.” Each conversation allows you to build your network and confidence.

And remember, you are not asking for a job. You’re gathering information while asking for advice and perspective. You may learn inside information about jobs that are being created, but that is not the primary objective with this strategy.

Networking is a key part of a job search strategy, but people often misconstrue what networking is. All it means is talking to others — either formally or informally — about your job search and career goals. So use the holidays, a period when you are likely spending a lot of time talking with others, to start the process.

Lauren Sveen is owner of Talent Redefined, a talent strategy firm that helps independent professionals connect with fastgrowing businesses. She is a speaker on workplace strategy, personal rebranding and worklife integration.