The Lion’s Pride: Networking - Finding the Right Contact Person

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The Lion’s Pride: Networking

Finding the Right Contact Person

So you want to work of a huge company, eh? Good. Who's going to decide whether you're going to be hired? And how do you find out who that is if you don't know?

Internet. Yes, the trusty Web is a fine thing, indeed. If you're looking for employment in a huge company, check their website, which they will most surely have. Click on the "About Us" link. Check out the products and services links. Generally speaking, if you dig far enough into a company website, you will find with the decision maker's name and contact information. If not, you will likely be able to find someone close enough to the decision maker to network your way into an interview.

You should also read articles about your prospective company. Decision makers are often interviewed and/or quoted. And when they're quoted, their titles are provided. This is vital information.

Organizations. This is a juicy piece of advice I give out on a regular basis - because it works. Most organizations, such as Rotary Clubs, are populated with business people and executives. They have their own networks you can tap.

Alternatively, with a little digging, you can find out if the prospective company favors a particular club. Many monoliths favor membership in Toastmasters International, for instance. Attending a few meetings of a "favored" club can reap a wealth of contact information - or actually meeting the decision maker.

Ask. Sure, this is "old school," but it works great. Ask your associates if they know anybody who knows anybody in the organization.

Pick up the phone and call the company. Does the automated system ask for an extension? Make one up - and then another and another. Does it ask you to spell out the name on the touch tone phone? Spell out "Smith," "Jones," or even "Greene." When you get a live human being, apologize for getting "lost" in the automated system and ask for the correct department chief.

IN THE CARAVAN: With a little work, you can find the decision maker.

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Networking

Business Card Pack Rats / Gump-Style Networking / Becoming the Hub Increases Your Brand / Becoming the Hub II: Building Self-Feeding Buzz / Myths and Truisms / Grow Your Network - Go Where The Employers Are! / It's Not What You Know... / Always Be Prepared...Even If You're Not a Boy Scout / How to Make Six Degrees of Separation Work (Even If You're Not Kevin Bacon) / Marketing and Branding Yourself, Part I / Branding II: Your Website or Blog / Finding the Right Contact Person / Give a Little to Get a Little / Why Join Organizations? / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 1 / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 2: The Winning of The Sally / First Contact With Mr. Smith, Part 3: First Impressions / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part 1 / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part II: It's Not the Song, It's the Singer / Asking Mr. Smith for Help, Part III: Getting down to business / Networking at Job Fairs / Doing It On the Road / Networking Online / Getting Info From Sally & Co., Part I / Getting Info From Sally & Co., Part II: Asking The Right Questions / Networking Out of Town Part I: Laying the Foundation / Networking Out of Town Part II: Touring for Interviews / Working the Network by Feeding the Network / 'Running' Into Contacts / You Only Get What You Ask For / Press the Flesh II: Small Talk / Press the Flesh Like a Pro / Playing the Percentages / Fishing and the Right Bait / Shrek Style / Get Your Butterflies Flying In Formation / Discover Other People’s Passions / Double Dipping Doing Good / Overbooking Your Way to a New Job / Shaking the Branches of Your Family Tree / Working Your Reunion / Parents of Your Kids' Friends