Leveraging Conferences, Trade Shows and Other Job Search Ideas

In this competitive job market, perhaps more than ever before, it's simply good business practice to maintain and build upon your professional network. This sounds like a "no brainer," but many job seekers have been caught off guard now that they are unexpectedly in transition. They have had to jump-start their efforts to build their network and/or reputation in the industry ... sometimes both.

ESPECIALLY if you are not employed, it is a good idea to attend industry conferences and tradeshows, as well as regularly-scheduled industry/organization events. Doing so will not only help your psyche, but will help you keep pace with regulations, competitive offerings, and other market drivers that shape and affect your industry. In addition, such events provide job seekers with an excellent opportunity to remain highly visible and network and promote their capabilities. In fact, many who are in transition are now doing volunteer work at such organizations, which enhances their skills, builds their reputations, and boosts their pipeline of reference sources. In a best-case scenario, it may serve as a stepping stone for the next great job!

In terms of other activities that can help with your job search, check out Linkedin or ask your network of friends and family of they know of someone in the industry who may actually be in a role similar to one that you are ideally seeking. If you cannot find someone in a similar role, identify someone close enough to the job that they have a peripheral understanding. Offer to meet them for coffee. It will be worth the cost of treating them. Each time I've networked for job-related reasons, I've gotten good tidbits of information, even if it did not ultimately lead to a job, itself. I also enjoyed the networking experience and have kept up with many of those I have networked with in the past, and vice versa. In many cases, I've reciprocated over the years. THAT'S what it's all about. I believe you can never know too many people.

In terms of guarding against transitioning into industries that may be a "fad," I also think that using the Bureau of Labor Statistics to see evidence of where the jobs/industries are going (shrinking or growing) is a great way to gain insight.

Also, to get you to take action in a more structured way, make a "To Do" list. My grandma always told me to "Write it down on paper." In her experience, memorializing fleeting thoughts crystallized them, resulting in a clearer sense of what needed to get done and provided a visual map of the order in which to best tackle such steps. In addition such a list serves as a checklist; and for most people, crossing things off your list will likely give you a sense of accomplishment. There are even some statistics that demonstrate that you are more likely to follow through if things are solidified on paper!