Popular How To Network With Executives In Your Job Search J.T. O'DonnellAugust 12, 2024 Bigstock

How do you get those high-level executives in your network to help you with your job search? Recently, a client of mine asked how they should reach out to a CMO they knew to see if they could help them find a job. Many people make the mistake of trying to reach out to these high-level people and being a little too casual.

You don't want to say, "Hey, how are you? It's been too long. I was wondering if you might want to connect." High-level professionals are super busy, and in this tight labor market, especially the white-collar job recession that we're dealing with, they're getting inundated with messages just like that that come across as really disingenuous.

So, what should you do?

Be Direct & Show Humility

When reaching out to high-level executives in your network in hopes that they'll help you with your job search, you want to be direct and show a little humility. I encourage sending a variation of this message to your high-level connections:

"Hey, I know we haven't talked in a bit. I need to be honest—I'm in the middle of a job search and was wondering if you could help me in two ways. First, there are a couple of people in your network that I would love to meet who are working at companies I'd love to earn an interview at. Second, I was curious if you could give me one to two top pieces of advice on what it would take to get more people at your level to respond to me so that I could potentially explore opportunities with their company. Any advice or help you could provide would be so appreciated. I know your time is valuable and I really could use the boost."

By doing this, you're being transparent. You're being very clear in your ask and you're offering them two concise ways to help you. Again, executives are time-crunched and they want to help you, but the way to get them to help you is by not making it too open-ended and too cumbersome for them. The clarity in your request, the directness in it, and also the appreciation and understanding on your end are going to generate a response.

Hopefully, this high-level person is going to come back and offer to introduce you or provide that advice. But what's interesting is the people that I've been coaching to do this are getting a bonus result: because their message was so direct and so many people are inundating these high-level people with disingenuous, roundabout requests, they respect and appreciate directness and suddenly say, "Well, let's just get on the phone for 10 minutes to chat."

When you are respectful of people's time, they're usually more willing to give you their time, and that is especially true for these executives who are in your network.

These are the kinds of tips and tricks that can help you move forward in what is one of the most difficult white-collar job markets in a generation. So, try this networking strategy in your job search today.

Good luck! Go get 'em.

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networking Partner Boost 11 Ways To Enjoy Summer When You’re Working A Full-Time Job Ariella CoombsJenna ArcandJune 13, 2024 Bigstock

There you are: sitting on the beach, covered in sunscreen, reading your favorite book, drinking your favorite drink under the cool shade of an umbrella. Life doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, a door slams, a phone rings, a printer turns on. You jolt back into consciousness. You're at work, sitting in your cubicle, without even a hint of sunshine streaming in from outside.

When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals, as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!

Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.

1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs

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Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.

2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car​

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Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities. Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.

3. Plan An Office Outing

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Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!

4. Organize Group Walks

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Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.

5. Eat Lunch At The Park

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When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.

6. Organize Office Sports

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Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.

7. Join A Professional Group

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During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.

8. Have An Office BBQ

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Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.

9. Wake Up Early

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Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!

10. Strategically Use Your Time Off

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Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time. Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.

11. Bike To Work

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If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!

There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!

Need more help with your career?

Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

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