I’m realizing more during this tough economic time the truth behind the age-old adage, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Last week I spoke with two clients looking for jobs in Austin in two different industries. In both conversations I realized I had great connections to aid in their job search, and made a warm introduction for them. Who knows if my introduction will end in jobs, but I can be assured my clients statistically have a better chance of landing a job through a warm introduction than if they contacted the company cold.
Enriching my network by connecting people wasn’t my “Ah-ha!” moment of the week, if it were, I’ve been sitting under a rock while everybody else took Little Black Book of Connections to heart. Rather, my light bulb moment came when I realized how being a Mortgage Advisor enriches my network faster because it allows me to be a people connector across industries.
Why Real Estate Professionals are Great People Connectors
The people I connect with the most in my job do not practice mortgage or real estate in Austin. My clients have jobs that span IT, education, hospice care and more. Therefore, during this tough economic time when many are searching for jobs, I (and other real estate professionals) can be a good contact for jobs in and outside of real estate for past clients, prospects, friends and family. Scrubbing my list of contacts for job descriptions and openings would be too cumbersome of a project; however, I regularly keep in touch with my clients and personal contacts, and know what they do for living, via my database and the social networking sites I use to connect with them. This makes it pretty easy to remind myself of the resource they are next time I connect with them or they run across my mind. I’m not trying to become a headhunter in Austin, but while many people I know are looking for work, understanding and engaging in what my contacts do for a living should become part of my daily life.
A Call to My Real Estate Friends
I encourage anyone in the mortgage or real estate business to make a more concerted effort to understand what past clients and personal contacts do for a living – you’re a better resource than you think when it comes to connecting people, especially now that conventional methods of searching for jobs aren’t as fruitful. Engage in conversations by not merely offering the obligatory “Good luck,” when people say they’re looking for a job; rather, jog your memory for a contact you have that may help in their job hunt. Even if you know your contact has no job openings, provide an introduction anyways and let them determine that – you never know what can come of a conversation between two people. One of the introductions I made for a client last week didn’t result in an opening with my contact’s employer, but did offer a lead on a job not yet posted with another company.
Advice for Job Seekers
For all you job hunting during this tough time, give your Realtor, Mortgage Advisor, Insurance Agent, Financial Advisor, etc. a call – we know a lot of people across various industries. Not to mention, we’ve all benefited from your business at some point in time, and should be available to help you now however we can.
I truly believe to whom much is given much is expected; therefore, if you’re blessed enough to have work during these tough times, serve others by supporting those who are trying to maintain their livelihood. Not just because it enriches your network, but well, because it’s the right thing to do.
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