Archive for the ‘Business Relationships and Introductions’ Category

We here at Ntroduction always like to take in feedback from our providers and members. Recently we did just that and out together a list of tips for job seekers to consider when using Ntroduction. Hopefully these tips will help you turn you’re introduction into your next dream job.

• Don’t ask for introduction simply for a referral fee – Ntroduction may not work if you do not provide additional details, meet with the provider or if you are not willing to discuss your business model.
• Be very clear about your professional standing – If you have a lot of experience in various fields, even have brand names experience but don’t offer details. The ‘my service/job/offerings is unique and you cannot find it elsewhere’ pitch. For example, a Seeker requested an introduction to a CFO recently but failed to highlight that he has a mix of Financial Audit in Manufacturing and Supply Chain markets – eventually, after about 5-6 weeks, when the provider curiously asked for more details, the Seeker provided this and the seeker landed the job within 2 weeks.
• The provider sees nothing unique in your pitch – Don’t come across as every other job seeker/consultant/consulting company/Product sales professional if you have the brand name companies and other solid experience that sets you apart. Ensure you are very solid in how you differentiate. For example, a consulting company recently presented to a provider and the provider said, ‘tell me something different- I meet people like you three times a week’. On presenting the comparison that ‘While my competitors offer a wide scale staff augmentation services, we provide teams to lead Organization Metrics to save you money and project better – we come in as a team and ensure you are satisfied before our team leaves’. Presenting unique values is one thing, comparing with and showing how you rise above the other candidates is how you get the job.
• Provider does not see you as a candidate for a C-level introduction – Perception matters – Your attire and attitude add to a provider’s perception of you. How you carry yourself, how you dress and how you present yourself make a huge difference.
• Provider believes you are not flexible enough to do the project or job – Don’t come across as inflexible. This includes your rates not being flexible or not willing to make changes for the job.

Hopefully these tips will help you make the most of your Ntroduction so that soon you’ll find yourself with the job of your dreams.

Though there will probably never some a time when job boards, newspaper want ads and employment agencies will ever become obsolete, the fact remains that in this day and age the true key to getting a job is who you know. Of course there has always been a lot of stock in that ideology since the beginning of time, but now who you know is really the name of the game when you’re playing the job hunt shuffle.

Research and studies are showing that not only are job seekers looking more at their online and real life network to find their next job, but employers are looking more to other employees or other personal referrals when looking to fill open positions.

Jeremiah Owyang of Web Strategy did a 5-part series based on a survey he took recently titled, “Jobs in a Recession.” In the first series of results Owyang found that of the all the respondents that had found work since September 2008 (when the recession started) 43% found those jobs through their immediate online network of friends, colleagues, alumni, or family. This is why many insiders and corporate insiders recommend devoting the majority of your job search time to networking.

The same can also be said for companies looking to hire, who trust a good referral more than a generic reference. This is why so many companies are either implementing new employee referral plans or building on plans that already exist.

A recent article on Martketwatch.com talked about just that. According to the article a good majority of positions are never even advertised because companies are choosing to rely on employee recommendations instead.

Companies such as Prudential and Vistaprint both offer lucrative employee referral programs. This benefits the company, who is hiring based on a trusted recommendation, the new hire, and of course the employee who made the recommendation who is not only helping the company succeed, but also making some quick cash in the process.

Prudential’s program offers $500 and $2,500 for each successful referral, depending on the job level. Vistaprint has the “Everyone Here is a Recruiter” program, which offers employees not only a home theater system for the employee with the most referrals hired, but also a $1,500 referral award for each successful hire. It’s no wonder that 48% of Vistaprint’s new hires in 2008 came from employee referrals.

This is a big part of the theory behind Ntroduction as well. With the majority of new hires coming from personal referrals, it’s important to know the right people. Be sure and check out our leads or list you own and see how YOUR network might work for you.

One of the biggest complaints coming from people looking for work is the proverbial black hole that exists in today’s job market. You know the one. The black hole that your resume falls into and is never heard from again? Hiring managers, HR reps and Recruiters alike all have an increasing habit of not responding too the many resumes they receive for job openings.

While this can probably be attributed to the countless qualified men and women applying for jobs it doesn’t exactly mean that common etiquette should be tossed out the window. And it certainly doesn’t help ease the already frustrated job seeker who waits eagerly to hear about another job that they had applied for.

There are a few ways to work around and handle the black hole of job hunting. Always remember to keep looking! Don’t set your sights on one great sounding job. These days with so many people looking for work no matter how perfect you may be for the job there’s always the possibility you may not hear back.

Be sure to follow up with email, phone calls or even an old fashioned letter. Those these won’t guarantee you get a response it can sometimes help.

Don’t rely only on traditional recruiting and job ads. We’ve talked about before the importance of building a network, now is the time to use it! Take advantage of the network you’ve built online on the following websites and social networks.

1. Facebook/Twitter: You’d be amazed at how much of a response you can get from your Facebook friends. Put the word out on both networks and let your friends know your looking. There’s a good chance you could right skate in the back door into a great new job.
2. LinkedIn: Their job search feature is getting better everyday. And what sets their job search apart from the rest is the fact that they let you know how well your network is connected to the jobs you find. Say your searching for a Customer Service position and you search your area and find some. LinkedIn will then tell you who in your LinkedIn network works for those companies or is connected to someone who works at them. All the technology of a great job search engine with the bonus of cutting out the middleman and connecting you with someone who can get you in the front door.
3. Ntroduction: Right here at Ntroduction we are all about cutting out the middleman and skipping the whole black hole theory all together. Taking advantage of the services we provide here, you can go straight to the hiring manager yourself face to face and get the job you deserve. Forget the recruiters and answering anonymous job ad after job ad. Get your foot in the door the old fashioned way, face-to-face.

Don’t forget to connect with other friends who are on the hunt as well. Work together to help each other out.  Make a list of friends who you know are also looking for work and in what field they’re looking and ask them to do the same. That way when you come across something or know someone who is hiring for a position they may be suited for you can connect them and vice versa.

In these still uncertain times the best weapon you have in the fight to find work is actual face time with the people doing the hiring.

It’s January again and you know what THAT means. It’s almost tax time again. Most people will probably agree that this has not been the most lucrative of years. People from all walks of life have suffered great financial losses this year while trying to survive beneath a crumbling economy. So it’s no surprise that taxes are the last thing anyone is interested in talking about now. But what if talking about taxes now could you some money in a couple months, or even help increases the size of your refund? You’d start talking.

How about talking about deductions? It’s always best to be aware of deductions you plan on taking through out the year, so that you can make sure you are keeping track of the necessary items to help you claim your deduction. Though you should have a CPA that is already aware of all the deductions that are available, they may not always be aware that some of those deductions might be available to you.

So it’s up to you to stay informed, and keep your tax person in the know. Here’s a list of twenty tax deductions that you may be overlooking.

• The depreciation of your cell phone (or computer). That’s right if you use your cell phone for “the convenience of your job” you can deduct the depreciation value.
• Medical Expenses. You can deduct the cost of most additional medical expenses you accrue during the year that aren’t covered by your insurance. That includes hearing devices, eye-care (glasses & contacts), contraceptives (by prescription), not to mention travel expenses related to medical care, and even childbirth classes. Special bonus if you’re self-employed, you can deduct 60% of your health insurance premium!
• Childcare tax credit. If you have kids, chances are your tax person will get this in automatically, but you want to make sure. Now, even if you have a reimbursement account for child care services at work, you can still take advantage up to $6,000 (for two or more children). You could be talking about cutting your tax bill here, don’t miss it!
• College tuition. You, yourself, or any dependant, are eligible to deduct up to $4,000 in college tuition fees.
• Student loan interest paid by mom and dad. Until recently you could only deduct student loan interest if you were liable for the debt and actually paying it yourself. Now if mom and dad are paying back the loan, the IRS treats as if it’s a gift. So if your not claimed as a dependant you can go ahead and deduct up to $2500. Thanks mom!
• State tax paid. Did you owe on your state tax last year? Well get it back! The IRS allows you to deduct what you paid to the state last year. Of course you can’t deduct the fees and penalties…
• Home business expenses. The items that can be claimed for deduction here are numerous and depend exactly on the business. A daycare for instance can deduct portions of grocery, mortgage, rent, arts & craft supplies and utility bills. A freelance web designer on the other hand can deduct paper, toner, and computer software. The IRS has an extensive section on home-based business deductions, but you should always go over, in detail, with your tax person what it is you do for a living. The best rule of thumb, keep track of everything you use for business!
• Job-hunting. Just because you found yourself unemployed this year, doesn’t mean the IRS doesn’t allow you a little something. Any expenses you accrue while searching for a job are fair game.
• Moving expenses for a new job. If the job you find is more than 50 miles away, you can deduct the cost of moving your household there.
• Alcohol and drug recovery. Amy Winehouse says No, No, No, but the IRS says yes, yes, yes, to deducting expenses related to rehab and recovery efforts.

We’ll give you a chance to digest this first batch of deductions before divulging the second set of ten. And of course by digest, we mean start collecting receipts and what not… Be sure and subscribe to the Ntroduction blog, become a fan on facebook, or follow us on twitter so that you catch part two of this series.

It seems you can’t go anywhere online without reading about the importance of your online network. And while that is important, especially when trying to establish a network to build a career, change careers or even to find a job, it’s just as important to maintain your real life network.

A lot can be said for a strong and extensive online network. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and many other sites throughout the web give us incredible opportunities to connect and network with people across the globe. But many of these sites offer you the chance to connect with people local to you as well.

Take some time to explore ways to connect your online network to your real life network and you could open up a whole new set of opportunities.

• Twitter Lists: A few months back Twitter introduced a great new feature that allows you to create a list of Twitter users based on whatever category you’d like. A great way to localize your twitter stream is to use the Twitter search function to search your town or surrounding area. Add the people you find to a list you create and start interacting and Networking with people in your area.
• 
• Attend a Tweetup: Tweetups are meetups put together so that people who interact online via twitter can meet in person. These are usually great ways to network and to bring your online network offline and into your real life. Once you’ve started following folks in your area start asking around to see is anyone is putting something together.
• Organize a Tweetup: If no one in your area is taking the initiative to schedule a local tweetup, do it yourself! If you have connected with people locally g for it and start planting the seed. Here are some great tips for organizing a great Tweetup.
• Facebook Fan Pages: Many cities are creating fan pages for the city itself or institutions within the city. The local library, community center, Parks & recreation District and chamber of commerce in your area all may have active fan pages. Become a fan so that you not only connect with other locals who are fans but to stay abreast of any networking events or job fairs in your hometown. This is truly becoming a great way to stay connected locally and build a network of people nearby.
• The Local Paper: You don’t have to have the paperboy deliver the hard copy to your door anymore to take advantage of all that a local paper has to offer. If you have a local paper, chances are they are online and you can subscribe via email, usually for free. Many groups and local clubs still religiously list their events with the local paper.  This is another great way to network locally.

Hopefully these tips will just be the tip of the iceberg for you when it comes to making your online network grow and become a part of your local network. You never know what new job and career opportunities may await at your next local Tweetup.

One more reminder: When you do attend local events to meet up with online friends always remember your business card! Have a number, email, website address and of course your Twitter handle on a card ready to hand out at all times.

Good luck!

You’ve done it! Congratulations, you’ve ut up your first listing on Ntroduction! You’ve already read the steps you should take leading up to craeting your first introfduction on Ntroduction, but now you’ve already got a repsonse. What next?

Well, that’s why we’re here. Read through these simple steps that will take you through how to make the most of your repsonse and real life introductions once they start rolling in.

After your Introduction proposal is listed:

• As soon as you list the introduction proposal, matching introductions are shown – feel free to respond to them.
• Respond to inquiries promptly with details for each and every question. For example: If the inquiry is about how many people are involved to make the decision, respond back to them clearly with ‘there will be 3 primary decision makers and 3 influencers – I will be providing an introduction to one of the key decision makers.”
• If you are in or around the neighborhood of the matching Seeker or Provider, meet with them in person – you never know, they can probably help you in future (we will provide a separate blog on what to discuss when you meet the matching seeker or provider in person).  At the very least, discuss how frequently you want to keep in touch.
• Always make sure you exchange your contact information and follow up to find out more about the opportunity.
• Remember, in order for the deal to close, introductions made (whether you are seeking or providing) can take a little time. Discussions between key players as well as putting heads together will have to happen first.
• You should always respond to inquiries within 5-7 days. A delay in response to inquiries can be deemed as not serious or really interested in the introduction.

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge that you need to make the most of Ntroduction, get out there and do it! And always feel free to contact us or even leave a question here on the blog if you have any questions. Good luck!

One of the great things about Ntroduction is how in can help you make the most of an otherwise bad situation, namely being laid off. Just because you’re no longer employed at a company doesn’t mean that you can’t turn your experience and the contacts you’ve made into something positive or even another opportunity.
That’s where Ntroduction steps in. Maybe it’s time you think about using the contacts you’ve made to help someone make an introduction and help you make a profit in the mean time.

This is part one of two posts that will help you through the steps you need to take before and after making an introduction through Ntroduction. Part one will list the steps you should follow before listing an introduction:

• Make a list of friends in your own department and related departments. In this list, create a smaller list of very close friends.
• Meet with them for lunch or call them and propose the idea of Ntroduction in this meeting and how you can help find suitable candidates for their business.
• Make sure that you let them know that you are not getting paid from the company but from the candidate through Ntroduction.com if the candidate gets hired.
• Keep in touch with them once every other week at least with a simple email “Hi, I am touching bases with you to see if you have any current needs. Simply reply back to this email with details about any positions you are in need of filling and I will try to find the candidate that is right for you – Thanks!”
• You can probably do this with your close friends at other companies – after all you have the experience and skills.
• Be clear when you place your listing with Ntroduction who you want to meet, what you need (Tax Director Job or Accepted Vendor at Fortune 500 company), when you want it and what is your differentiator from others preferably a strong opening statement that raises interest to respond back to you.
• Keep the details about your or your companies accomplishments simple and detailed – preferably bullet points.
• Clearly explain what you will do to them in future if the introduction is successful. For example “I know several finance auditors at Fortune 500 with financial service experience and can provide introductions as well as opinions when needed”
• Clearly explain how you want to provide introduction or seek introduction – whether you want to meet people face-to-face or would an email or phone be sufficient.

Now you’re ready to list an introduction, so go for it! Be sure and subscribe to the Ntroduction blog so you can follow up with the second post in this series to find out what to do AFTER you’ve made your introduction.

Though reports show that unemployment may finally and slowly be starting to level out it is still well over 10%. Looking for a job under any conditions can be a stressful endeavor but in an uncertain economy while competing with obscene amounts of other job seekers many people can find themselves under enormous amounts of stress while looking for work.

Not only is this unhealthy but the effects of stress can easily hinder your ability to find the right job, or any job. Stress can lower your self-esteem, your energy level, your ability to focus and your attitude. And attitude is the key to any job search. Here are a few tips to managing your stress while looking for work. It could mean the difference between finding the job the job you want and finding your self still looking for work.

• Meet people of your age who are also looking for work. Don’t look at people your own age as the competition, look at them as allies in the war against unemployment. Especially if you live in the same neighborhood, have kids that attend school, or intermingle in the same circles. They can give you a heads up to new opportunities, take turns watching kids during interviews, and just give you an understanding ear after a couple of hits in the job search.

• Specifically meet people with positive attitude and are realistic. No matter what the age of the people you’re around, negative folks can do nothing but drag you down. Both negative and positive attitudes are like a yawn. Both are incredibly catchy and your take in what the people around you are putting out there. Hang back from the friends who can’t find anything positive to bring to the conversation and spend more time on friends who are putting out a good attitude.

• Take long strolls everyday which will give you energy to speak better, write better and interact better with confidence. This will help keep you focused and keep your game sharp. It’s critical to take some reflective time to yourself every day.

• Do a 10-minute meditation – Simply gaze at a tree and watch it move in the breeze for about 10 minutes – do not think of anything else – this will give your mind a bit of rest to gather energy and positive attitude. Nothing conquers a high stress level better then meditation each and every day.

• Take your food in regular time everyday and do not waver from your regimen of taking food or doing exercise or meditation everyday. Remember that as your health decreases your stress level increases. So keep your diet healthy and exercise as much as possible. Whether it is at the gym or just a 15-minute yoga routine at home.

If you keep yourself focused and don’t let stress get the better of you, you will continue new ideas in your job search and new confidence. 2009 is almost over – may the New Year yield you that dream job your looking for.

As unemployment continues  to rise due to layoffs in most industries across the country many people are finding themselves facing an uncertain future. One way many people are dealing with that uncertain future is by going back to school. Whether it be to finish obtaining a degree or credential you never quite got to whether it’s to start fresh on a career path you always dreamed of pursuing going back to school seems to be the most logical step for many adults facing unemployment.

If you find yourself thinking about returning to school, here are a few tips to help you on your way.

• Go back to school virtually: Though there are many online universities out there, the truth a lot of them may not be what they appear to be and fake degrees is a continuing issue in the world of online education. Stick with legitimate and well-known universities like the University of Phoenix. Though these legitimate online universities offer degrees in many areas, the one downfall is that they do tend to run a little costly. Your local community college may offer a similar program for much less, or even completely paid for if you qualify for assistance.
• Get it Paid For: Many working adults (especially those with kids) may be surprised to find out that they qualify to have the majority if not all of their expenses paid for by various grants and scholarships. Careers in early education even have additional programs where they award you many for taking so many classes. Money to help sustain your household, pay for books or get a new laptop. They’re rewarding you for choosing to go back to school. Don’t overlook these opportunities. Go to your school’s financial aid office and ask someone to help you find out what you qualify for. Free money is always a good thing!
• Be Equipped: Going to school is not the same thing as it was when many of were kids. If you’re taking the leap to go back to school make sure you have a laptop to help keep you n top of your work. Especially if you’re a parent who may be doing a lot of homework on the go you’ll need something mobile. Don’t fret; look on craigslist for something new or even Walmart or Target for a basic Dell or something similar. See the above tip for ways to cover your news laptop and other necessities for going back to school.
• Talk to Your Family: Going back to school whether its online or in the classroom requires time and commitment on just your part but your whole family’s as well. Make sure you talk it over and that everyone is on board for the extra effort it’s going to take form everyone while you’re studying and accomplishing your goals.
• Have a Game Plan: Though flipping through the course catalog for your local community college is a great way to start when it comes time for registration talk to a counselor! They can help you map our what classes, credits, and in what order you’ll need to accomplish you’re goals in the most efficient way.

Be proud and stick to it! You’ll be glad you did.

It’s no surprise that with the current state of the economy and unemployment that Americans are stressed. A recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 80% of American’s surveyed fare stressed over personal finances and the economy. It also found that 50% are stressed over meeting the needs of their family and 56% over the security of their job.

People questioned in the survey were asked how the stress was affecting them. 60% stated they regularly feel angry and irritable over stress and 53% feel fatigued a majority of the time. 52% admitted that they simply lie awake at night due to overwhelming stress.

After reading these staggering, yet unsurprising statistics, I did a little research to find out what jobs would be good for people who are becoming buried beneath the stress of simply getting by. I came across the Best jobs in America List on CNN.Money and Payscale.com where they had a category that enable you to look up the least stressful jobs.

1. Education/Training Consultant
2. Physical Therapist
3. College Professor
4. Software Developer
5. Technical Writer
6. Telecommunications Network Engineer
7. Speech-Language Pathologist
8. Software Architect
9. Occupational Therapist
10. Civil Engineer

So if you’re being kept up nights by stress and you’re looking to switch careers to something a little less stressful you can check out these job listed above. You can also look at the entire list of the Best Jobs in America to see where yours falls on the list.

One of the fastest growing areas of business is the Virtual Event arena. As many companies look for ways to cut costs yet boost company promotions they find the best answer lies in the world of virtual events. It just happens to work out that as more people look to cut costs in their own household, many people opt to attend virtual events from the comfort of the home instead of forking over the big bucks for a plain ticket, hotel, gas and the many other numerous costs of attending an event away from home.

There couldn’t be a better time for companies to start diving into the world of virtual events and virtual event marketing. With the incredibly low cost of putting on a virtual event the risk is minimal plus companies have a larger pool of possible attendees to promote an event too.

If your company is on the fence about holding a virtual event for your business, here are five simple reasons why it’s time to get off the fence and get to planning.

1. Cheap, cheap, and cheaper. The first and most obvious reason of course, it saves you money. With virtual events there are no expenses for air travel, catering, event venue rentals, hotel and time away from the office, the average virtual event can save almost 80% on what a live event would cost.
2. Higher Attendance. A recent survey commissioned by ON24 of 5,000 marketing executives found that 63 percent were more likely to attend a virtual conference than an in-person event. People are much more likely to attend an event online then spend the money traveling to the event and covering all the associated costs. Not to mention, some people just can’t. With virtual events you’re opening the door to a people all over the world who would otherwise not be attending.
3. Social Media Tools. Using the social media tools that are already in place, Twitter, Facebook, Ning, LinkedIn, etc. you can draw on a community that’s already set in place. Within the virtual world you have an entire set of tools that help you target and promote your event to the very people who want to hear about it.
4. Greener is Better. On top of the struggling economy there is currently a struggling environment as well. By using virtual events many companies are able to greatly reduce their carbon footprint Sixty-six percent of marketers polled said they plan on implementing or have already added a Green Initiative, up from just 32 percent in 2007. Good for business and for the environment.
5. Information. One of the most difficult parts of any event is getting feedback and a true idea of the ROI. Virtual events offer an easier way to track those things and then integrate that data into a CRM program.

Virtual Events are truly the wave of the future. It’s no longer a matter of when your company will jump on the bandwagon; it’s a matter of when.

One of the most unfortunate things about making our way through the current economic recession is the fact that things are tough all over. Which means that while this is the time when you and your family need a raise the most it’s also the time when your company may be in the worst position to give it to you. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

There is one thing about an economic recession, companies that have loyal hardworking employees that are doing their best to help keep business rolling want to do all they can to keep those employees happy. So just because things may be tough for the company you work for, doesn’t mean they aren’t going to want to give you what you need to keep you working hard.

If you think it’s time to start looking into getting a raise at your job use these tips to help prepare you and give you the best chance at getting what you deserve.

1. Find out how what your salary is compares with what your salary should be. The first thing you should do is see how your salary ranks with what other companies are paying. Websites like Payscale.com or Salary.com help you figure the average salary for your job in the area you live and work in. See where your paycheck fits on the scale and use that as your jumping off point for how much you should be asking for.
2. Research the company. Don’t relay on company gossip to figure out how things are going for the company you work for. About.com has a great section about how to research a company to see what the condition is, how the market fairs, and how successful the industry you work is in is doing. These favors can help you come up with a reasonable request when meeting with your boss. Not to mention be armed with the facts about the status of your company’s well being always gives you an edge while negotiating.
3. Read the Employee Handbook. Refresh your memory on the do’s and don’ts of your company. See if there is a set protocol for asking a raise that you should be following. Be sure and reread your job description as well. Are you doing all that your job entails? Are you doing more?
4. What can you bring to the table? Sit down and make an honest list of everything you do for the company. Then make a list of all the things you can offer the company to help keep them successful. What can you do that no one else can?
5. Get the lowdown. Do you have friends or coworkers who have already asked for a raise in recent months? Even if it’s someone who doesn’t work for your company find out how they went about it and went right or wrong with during their experience.  Take notes.
6. Come up with Plan B. You have to be sure that you have a game plan in mind BEFORE you walk in the door. How low of an increase are you willing to take? And what does it mean if your boss says no? Are you going to be willing to take no for an answer or will this be an all or nothing ultimatum. Whether you’re willing to quit your job if you don’t get your raise or not is a decision you need to make before setting up the meeting.
7. Set up a meeting. Make sure your boss knows your mean business. Don’t just pop in to his/her office on your way out the door or grab he/she in the break room. Call ahead and set up a meeting so he/she knows you’re serious.
8. Be Confident. No one knows your situation better than you, and know one knows what your worth better than you.  So when you step in that room be sure you don’t walk out settling for anything less than what you deserve.
9. Stay Confident.

Planning Your Job Search: Think outside the Box Before you go Job Hunting

Today’s job market is one of the most volatile we’ve seen since the early 1980s or possibly even since the Great Depression. The number of people searching for work continues to grow each day, while the amount of jobs available continues to shrink.

The unfortunate reality is that even though there has been a small drop in overall unemployment, according to a recent article from Time.com, the more serious issue of long-term employment shows no signs of stopping. According to the article long-term unemployment (unemployed for 27 weeks or more) increased from 4.4 million to 4.9 million from June to July. One in three unemployed workers have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more. The most disturbing statistics is that one-quarter of long-term unemployed people; never return to the work force. This leaves the possibility of an almost permanent recession in the United States.

Given all this, competition is ruthless and salaries are shrinking. That doesn’t mean the right job isn’t out there for you. It just means you have to step outside the box a little to find it. Here are some tips to help make your job search work for you. Use these tips to figure where you should be living and looking for work.

• Where are jobs and who is hiring – what is happening
• What Professions are in demand
• Where are the safest and most affordable cities to live in?
• What Cities are the best places to live if your single?
• Consider how far are your friends & relatives

Once you picked a city or two that looks like the right place for you to find your next job, here is what you do next:

• Summarize the salaries.
• Visit some online resources that enable you to look for jobs at national level for the areas you have in mind.
• Online resources to gather neighborhood information on the neighborhood you’re thinking about moving too.

And don’t forget the most precious resource you have, a list of who you know. Former colleagues, friends, and associates. And of them may have the right connection to get you your next job. Don’t forget to spread the word that you’re looking, the right introduction may just be the one that leads you to your future.

You can also reach out beyond your Network here at Ntroduction.com – simply ask for introduction and achieve your career goal(s).

Good luck!

Would I introduce my buddy at Ntroduction?

Would I introduce my close buddy  at Ntroduction to a seeker?

That is a judgment call I have to make – I may not necessarily introduce my close buddy, the buddy of my ‘inner circle’.

Let me define who is my  “close buddy” or “the buddy of my inner circle”?  If my buddy watches out for my interest and I watch out for him/her, then I would treat such buddy as buddy of my inner circle or close buddy.

Ntroduction : Who would you introduce at Ntroduction.com?

I may not necessarily introduce my close buddy, the buddy of my ‘inner circle’  -  However, I would provide introduction to somebody who I know professionally and I am not very close to him or her – my buddy in my ‘outer circle’. I would also be upfront and tell him/her that I am getting paid for the introduction.

For example, while working as part of Finance department,  say, I came across Tom, a Sales Director who is looking for a sales person to hire.  Would I introduce Tom at Ntroduction to a member seeking for a sales job? Yes – it would depend if he is part of my ‘buddy of my inner circle’. If Tom is not part of my ‘inner circle’,  I will reach out to Tom, the Sales Director and inform that I may get paid if  he ends up hiring the candidate I introduced.

Needless to say, I will review the candidate’s resume, possibly meet him/her and obtain comfort that this person comes across as a Sales person, is personable and has general qualities of a sales person

However if Tom was really my close buddy, my buddy in my inner circle, that would be a judgment call. If my close buddy Tom reached out to me and said “I really  really need to find this Sales person as soon as possible,  please let me know if you know somebody that fits my requirement“, then I will probably think about helping Tom with the referral – I would probably ask Tom “I may get paid from this candidate for investing my time qualifying this person, is that OK?“  If Tom agrees, then I will probably proceed.

How about you?

Can Swine Flu turn professional world chaotic?

With flu’s favorite chilly weather fast approaching, get ready for the  Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu).  Media has been speaking about how bad it can be and looks like 1 in 5 would be affected by swine flu.

Nobody knows what might happen but the better news :

• Even with no vaccine, winter is ending in the Southern Hemisphere without as much havoc as doctors had feared, a heavy season that started early but not an overwhelming one.
• The strain that doctors call the 2009 H1N1 flu isn’t any deadlier than typical winter flu so far. Most people recover without treatment; many become only mildly ill.
• Importantly, careful genetic tracking shows no sign yet that the virus is mutating into a harsher strain.

Only this week do U.S. researchers start blood tests to answer a critical question: How many doses of swine flu vaccine does it take to protect? The answer will determine whether many people need to line up for two flu shots – one against swine flu and one against the regular flu – or three.

As if we have life less complicated, when  the vaccine becomes available by mid October, there could be scarcity of vaccines so, there would be preference to  – pregnant women, young kid’s and young adults who have breathing problems – over others.

Alright! – What would happen to the professional world?

What if 1 in 5 in critical departments gets sick? Can this drive chaotic?

Typically Corporations have two plans – business continuity plan (BCP) and disaster recovery plan(DR) drafted and tested (mostly dry drills) that is executed when a crisis such as earth-quake or some action of god hits.

Can these plans be executed to avoid chaotic professional world?  Depends – It is designed for a situation to avoid losing business except that the assumption here is,  personnel who are responsible in executing the above plans should be mindful and healthy to execute the BCP.

You see where this is going?

So, let’s talk about how you can try to avoid getting affected:

• Make sure that it is a policy in your kids school to send sick kids home that shows the symptoms of flu (coughing, sneezing) – No disrespect intended to anyone. Same policy should be instilled within the corporate wall too.
• Take a lot of Vitamin-C and such, that can strengthen your immunity
• As soon as you and kids get home, no matter how tired you/they are, take a shower – Water vapor can help keep the lungs clean while body gets sanitized
• Avoid going to crowded places if you can
• Make sure you wipe your hands with anti-bacterial sanitizer as soon as you come from bathroom or from kitchen or meetings
• If you happen to catch  flu,  email the team to take leave and most importantly,  take the medication within one day, worst two (The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses)

Let’s hope that the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs

Am I stupid?

I know many of you got a good review, hoping to see teeny-weeny bit of a hike or a small bonus  or a promotion.

Heck… your boss walks up to you and indicates that you are not getting promoted this year and you need to be thankful for your paycheck.

Then, your boss sends a meeting invite that is scheduled in an hour along with a HR person into a conference room ‘Mount Fuji’.   Your blood pressure begins to build.

That moment comes – Your boss is not looking at you eye to eye but introduces the HR and excuses himself.

Now comes the ’striking moment’ – HR personnel slowly speaks about how good you have done, your recent ratings etc which you don’t really care as, all you want is, to hear the catch!

You are about to scream – “Get to the point! – Show me my money!”

The HR personnel slowly and smoothly talks about how the economy is affecting the company revenues and in fact corporate executives are doing everything they can to avoid laying off employees.

Sure! Fair enough! – “Get to the point!”

Now comes the Kamikaze that knocks you down – Management has decided to instead, rescale the salary on case-by-case basis. You realize that is why he is here to talk to you.Then he tells you, your salary is rescaled to go down by 20% starting this week.

Huh…? What…?

You now need, more than any other time – a hug, a caring person who can patiently hear you and say ‘honey, don’t worry, I will take care of your shortcoming salary’.  You wish!

You walk out of the conference room with a silent nod to HR person. He says  ‘ I totally understand this is a bomb blast and if you want to take the rest of the day off, please feel free to do so’ .

But there is a all-hands meeting in the afternoon. So, you want to stick around.

Alright! – The week started with aspirations on Salary Hike, a tiny bonus and  perhaps promotion – all of these got promoted to the dreamland!

Then the CIO speaks at the all-hands meeting in the afternoon – ‘You have to be flexible to do anything needed- sometimes my controller of finance fetches me coffee and that’s how flexible we ought to be’.

Everyone giggles without energy.

You walk out of the corporate building slowly towards the parking garage thinking – you got a great review, a good rating and everyone in cross-functional departments raved your last year performance  – So.., “Am I stupid?”

Recession Recovery? Where..? When? How..?

I do not know about you but I keep hearing  more and more bad news about the economy on all of the different media channels.  What we need is some good news, irrespective of how minute impact it does to this economy.

I don’t want to rant about more bad news here but let’s look outside of US.  China is doing great. India is not doing badly. Japan is back in shape and UK is seemingly showing progress in its economy.

I was speaking to a senior member of the Church of Scientology who, just came back from a Asia and Europe tour. I was picking his brain on his experiences on the street (Part of his job is to ’spread the word’ and  enroll needy members into the Church).  He had visited in Nov 2008 and this visit was totally different. This visit was lot better in terms of donations to church and he saw a lot more friendly smiles.

So, what is it that we are missing? My friend then turned his conversation  ‘American greed’. He had heard this mentioned by the non-US members of his church.  It was clear to everyone outside of US that American corporations are greedy and that it is self-destructing jobs and hence economy recovery is far away if not impossible.

I am not sure if I agree with them but  lets say assume that American corporations are greedy.

So what?

We should  not look at the Government to fix anything that happens but we got to put some kind of mitigating process in place

• Rather than expecting President to do something, ask the corporations to give back  -  when you came to our cities, we supported you with jobs, real-estate and such. Now its your responsibility to give back
• The jobs that are eliminated should be sent to Job  elimination monitoring committee  (JEMC – OK, I made this up!) which should decide on a case-by-case basis and recommend the corporation to hold-off or go ahead.  Corporations should prove that  Job elimination is not just for monetary reasons but for lack of talent, etc (If H1-Visa requires some mandate that the petitioning company need to prove lack of talent in USA, why not JEMC? )

These are some of  my suggestions and I  think the US should consider getting  unemployment below 6% as the top priority for the economy to grow positive.

Employed or unemployed? - Look who is hiring/buying at Ntroduction

Based on national statistics, for every 20 people in this country today, 3 of them are unemployed on an average.  In this world of social networking and all, how do I know who can help me in my job search and who cannot?  Here are some of my thoughts.

I observed a large number of professionals are unemployed but show themselves as employed. Reason?  The kind of look you get when you tell someone that you are looking for a job is way-out-of-whack.  So, professionals project themselves as employed  (you can observe on linkedin about several D-Levels/C-Level professionals who have been off-loaded from their positions long ago but the linkedin profile seems to show that as current)

Well, what does this mean to you? If you are looking for a customer or looking to connect with a hiring manager, that’s misleading information.

However if you are just trying to network with them, then its awesome.  I like Linkedin for the same reason that I can grow my network, find where my colleagues are  – whether its of use right this minute or not. The only gripe about this is it could be outdated or they may not be ready to buy / hire. Right?

Now, where can I find professionals who are ready to buy product/services or even hire? You can browse  for introductions sought or introductions provided to get a clear idea of professionals ready to buy or hire.

Job losses - How Ntroduction can help

I was yawning  at the San Jose airport waiting for my friend who I had not seen for over 14 years (limited to email, phone calls) and  news Flash on the TV monitor in front of me, shook me – CA has 14% unemployment.

Man! – That might be a bit exaggertated. I would say perhaps 12% would be near to reality. I opened my iphone to check emails and my friend had sent me this link which is related to CA job situation.
Lets not feel happy comparing to the last year’s July planned job cuts as that’s not a happy news but overall, Say I am walking on a street of 20 people, 3 of them are without job in CA – Scary isn’t it?

These  are lost jobs to outsourcing or corporate greed or stockholders pressure or M&A. Whatever the reasons are, most of the jobs are ‘Gone Baby Gone’. What happenned to the promise by President that companies sending jobs would be taxed more?

I was talking to a friend, Director of IT in leading storage company and he agreed with me that IT jobs are now outsourced every second as we speak. So, , my advice to future employment force is to stay away from IT and look for something that is core to the business and that would be essential to keep it within corporate.  I would suggest you to browse professional introductions Seeked and provided and you will get an idea of what seems to be in demand.

Do I know you?

During 1999/2000, when the market was booming,  I played a role of Director of Business Development for about 6 months. I was part of several organizations where I would meet people, handshake and exchange business cards.

In one such event, I happened to exchange a business card with a Director of Marketing at Siebel. I called the gentleman next day or two and introduced myself on the phone. He immediately says “Do I know you….? Are you introduced to me by anybody?”.

Fair enough. We just met in an event and it is a two way street – he may need our product/service – but let’s put ourselves in his shoes – maybe, he had a bad day or it is his policy to speak to people that are introduced to him only.

But after years , I realize – I have been in both places – Buyer or a Seller and I have learnt to ask the same question “Do I know you…? Are you introduced to me by anybody?”.  If we have met in an event, I will simply answer the call with “Please send me an email – if I have budget, I will let you know”.

However, if I had been introduced first hand by somebody, it would have made a difference – he would probably have said “You know, I have a very bad day and I do not have budget. Can we discuss this on phone a month or two later?”.

We recently did a poll of our existing members (for those who answered our poll, THANK YOU!) and the question was simple:  “Top few things you do not know about yourself”

We gave these answers to choose from and users could pick more than one answer.

Question: Top few things you do not know about yourself

Multiple Choice Answers:

a. I know people but do not know how to leverage them

b. I surprise myself sometimes but don’t know how to convert from sometimes to almost always

c. I know what I don’t know but I don’t know what I know.

d. I believe I know enough about my self and I am content with it.

The poll were answered by 412  members and answers are captured below:

Question: Top few things you do not know about yourself

a. Know people but do not know how to leverage them :  63%

b. I surprise myself sometimes but don’t know how to convert from sometimes to almost always : 43%

c. I know what I don’t know but I don’t know what I know : 27%

d. I believe I know enough about my self and I am content with it : 19%

Well,  the top most thing we do not know about ourselves – we know people and we do not know what to do with them. Now, there is Ntroduction for your help.  “Better an ounce of luck than an ounce of gold” – find this luck with introductions at Ntroduction.

As of today, here is a quick statistics on Ntroduction

The following introductions are being exchanged :

• 40% of the introductions are exchanged for Director level
• 16% of introductions are exchanged for C-level
• 20% of introductions are exchanged for specialized ‘hard to find people’
• Rest are for Solo contributors, Investors, Company Founders etc.

The following introductions are being searched:

• 36% of searches are performed for C-level
• 20% of searches are performed for Managers
• 11% of searches are performed for Directors
• Rest of searches are others

We will update this statistics maybe again in about 3 months. Please let us know if you would like to see any other statistics.

On  one afternoon in this month, July we decided to go for a drive together on Tesla.

If there is one thing that gets you excited in life, that is Tesla driving. I have driven Hummer, driven muscle cars before but the thrill in this is different

a. As you can see in the pictures, its shorter than Prius.

b. The leg space and the comfort is unbeatable

c. the design, the mold the details – awesome!

See below for the pictures – I will soon upload video to show interior and comfy!

Our friend Darrell waited for 8 months or probably more to get it.  He chose the colors about 4 months ago – Orange and Silver – superb combination.  You got to appreciate the sleek front slope and the design.

Initially I thought when I sat inside, I thought it is a new experience – as though I am sitting in a Japanese restaurant – you know what I am talking. The seat is low and almost the floor and with your legs stretched out.

But when we drove out to the street, it is the race car experience on a main stream street. We took a mini-van driver for a surprise that we overtook him just before he got into the highway ramp. We parked next to our office and people who came to TOGO’s there pretty much forgot what they came for. One of them got so embroiled that we had to push him aside, politely of course and get out of the place.

We drive on 101, 237 and 880 – and every time we got into circular ramps on these high ways, it was like a roller coaster ride. Although the height is low, the shock absorbers are amazingly jitter free and makes a very comfortable drive.

Anyway, I will let you check out the photos and if you get a chance, check it out at Tesla Auto dealer stores  near you.

Life is worth it when you own one!

Dear Ntroduction.com reader

Recently, a friend of mine (who reported to me before at Symantec) requested that I circulate her resume around. She was working with Symantec and is now looking for a new job.

I simply forwarded her email to several of my friends. As you may have guessed, in the current market condition, such emails do not get sufficient attention due to inbox flooded with similar emails. Then I posted this at ntroduction.com – I said, I will introduce her to you for $750. I explained my title, my previous experience and titles held and why this person is important.

In the past few weeks, I have 2 offers to get her introduced. The key here is: People value your track record and if  it has worked for you, it will work for them too. Of course, I will make sure to know before I make the introduction to my friend.
Introductions has always worked before. If you need to find a job quickly, find a person who can vouch for you to make an introduction at Ntroduction.com.

The choice is yours – either keep responding to your resumes online/networking online or quickly get introduced to a hiring manager at Ntroduction.com.