SPEAKER’S CORNER: Jay Barrett Focuses on Networking

Speaker's Corner

By Pamela Williams
Jay Barrett’s presented “The Tool Chest for Your Job Search” on June 18th, focusing on the requirements for successful networking. He started by asking three questions.
1. What are you doing right?
2. What are you doing wrong?
3. Are you missing any tools?
He talked about the standard tools usually kept in a tool chest then described the tools he feels are necessary for a successful job search:

  • Calendar: used to record your daily activities
  • Business Card:  let people know how they can contact you/networking
  • Small notebook: one that can fit in your pocket/pocketbook for use as a diary
  • Pen: for writing
  • Golf Ball: or whatever you need to have fun
  • Mints: an interview essential
  • Small bottle of wine –  a reminder to be aware of your purpose when on a dinner interview
  • Resume: that will represents who you are professionally
  • Tie shirt: shows how we are presenting ourselves on interviews

Jay’s job search road map begins with networking. He discussed the many processes that a job seeker goes through to land their next opportunity, while noting how multi processes can be happening at the same time.
Joe’s answers to key questions about job search tools:

  1. Networking:
  • Should be done all the time
  • Requires elevator speech,
  • Best when attending at least 3-5 gatherings a week
  • Should attend meeting outside your industry, is best with personal contact.

2.  Job Search

  • Is more demanding at times than a regular job

3.  How do you measure success in a job search:

  • The number of job interviews you have each week

4.  LinkedIn

  • You should have at least 50 connections and join groups for discussion
  • LinkedIn invitations: never use the default invitation  because it tell the other person you are too busy to say hello
  • 85% of employers look at LinkedIn for experience, layout, type of groups and question answered

5.  Resume

  • A living document, the resume should be constantly revised focusing on the job description
  • A resume is a marketing tool used to market oneself
  • Should have a summary statement telling who you are
  • Should be two pages, however there are exceptions to the rules
  • Should be customized based on the job description

6.  Cover Letter

  • Should be brief and simple
  • 50% are read

7.  Job Interview

  • The best source for getting a job interview is a personal contact
  •  The important things in a job interview are:
    • Body language
    • Knowledge and expertise of job
    • Dress and appearance
    • Preparation, homework
    • Thank you note/e-mail
  • Have written questions prepared ahead of time
  • A good question to ask in the initial interview is: “what would you say is the most difficult part of the job”
  • Questions not to ask:
    • How many years have you been in your job
    • How many people were terminated last year
    • Is this a good company

8.  Salary Negotiations

  • May be done after the recruiter brings it up
  • Should be carefully handled

Jay ended by saying: “There is not always a right or wrong way. Ultimately, you are marketing yourself, so you have to do what you are comfortable with.”
Jay Barrett is the owner at Barrett Consultants, which provides human resources services. He has more than 20 years of Human Resources experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, and consumer goods industries with Fortune 100 and medium-sized companies, driving the Human Resources philosophy, design, management, administration, organization, and legal compliance with all State and Federal laws and regulations.  

Leave a Reply