Learn before you make that career move

 

career move

Image credit – careersenhanced.com

Whether it’s a new job or a new career path, research is essential to ensure that you are making the right move. What’s the best way to research? May be scroll through the online reviews, stories and opinions (often contradictory) or talk to some you know. This is how we have been doing it for long but now there are more official and effective ways of doing that.

Informational Interviews

This probably is the best and quick way of knowing about the organization, career or industry of your choice. Your social network or a common connection is a good way to connect with the relevant people in your desired role or industry. You can also approach through a personal reference to meet the person who can help your with the information. Such meetings are called Informational Interviews. They are often conducted in a formal fashion where you get an opportunity to ask questions, get insights and inputs and also hear experiences from those who have been working in the role that interests you. If you already know the person concerned, why not invite him/her for informational interview over a cup of coffee and get the conversation rolling? These interviews are great way of research and mentor-ship opportunities.

Online Talent communities

What can be better than connecting with employers of your choice and learning about the work culture and career opportunities from them? Organizations are now open to connect with the prospective employees through online talent communities which give a chance to employer as well as candidates to know and decide if they are best fit for each-other. Though the concept of online talent communities is not new but it’s recently that employers started utilizing it for hiring and relationship building. It is a two-way communication tool that helps organization, employees and job seekers to interact and engage.

Social media is a powerful tool, utilizing it in a wise and smart way is always a step closer to better job or career. There is much more that individuals, organizations and industry experts are doing to improve the way connections and interactions work for mutual benefit. If you or your employer is making an effort to encourage social learning and participation, share it with our readers in the comments below.

meetuMeetu Khanduja is an HR professional with extensive experience of working with IT/ITES industry. She holds an MBA (HR) and PDG (Intellectual Property Rights) from Indian Law Institute, New Delhi. She has been working with Artech Infosystems as Outsourcing HR consultant with specific involvement in Employee Engagement & Retention, Talent Management and HR outsourcing functions. She enjoys volunteering for social and environmental causes. She shares her experience and views on HR on her blog atHRdictionary. Connect with her on LinkedInFacebook & on twitter at @hrdictionary

 

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Reply