Network first, resume second.

Two years into my career coaching role and some clear patterns emerge. This is one of them.

If you’re laid off, typically the first thing people do is update their resume. That needs to happen, but I’d argue it shouldn’t be the top priority for most people. Why? Because it’s a relatively quick and easy fix. Don’t get me wrong, it takes skill and experience to get it right. And there are some wonderful professional resume writers out there if you need help. But it is relatively quick and easy.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳? 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. 𝗦𝗼 𝗜’𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. Why? Because most people let their network go cold when they’re working. Because your network is more important than ever to land the work that you want. Because your network can help you land faster - remember every month you’re not earning is lost lifetime income...Because a less-than-perfect resume submitted through your network beats a cold application with a perfect resume most of the time.

𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟲 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝘁, 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁:

💡 Figure out who are the most important people in your network

💡 Email them to let them know what’s happened, the type of work that you want, and how they can help. It might be uncomfortable for you, but don’t put it off until you have a “perfect list”. Your list will never be perfect…

💡 If there are people in your network that you haven’t kept warm, reach out for a coffee chat. Ask them if you can keep them updated. If yes, add them to your email list. Ask them to intro you to 3 people in their network who might be able to help you.

💡 As you add people to your network, ask them if you can keep them updated on your search. Add them to your list…

💡 Make sure you stay top of mind - keep the people on your list updated by email every month

💡 Repeat

If you need help to figure out who are the most important people in your network, book a free chat with me using the bottom at the top of the page.