Who Should Facilities Managers Connect With When Job Searching?
Can you believe June is almost over? With sunshine and longer days in full swing, also comes job hunting. From new college grads to experienced professionals, the beginning of the summer months are often a flurry of interviews and cover letters for many. Earlier this week we discussed drafting the perfect cover letter and preparing ideal questions to ask during your interview, but what about before you even apply to a job? Connections are your first source of job availability and a great resource for jump starting your search – and we all know that LinkedIn is the perfect place to plant those connection seeds.
Here’s who to follow and how to develop your connections when you have your eyes on a job in FM.
1. Follow Thought Leaders in the FM Industry
One of the best ways to start growing your LinkedIn presence is by following thought leaders. These are the individuals who you see commenting and posting on group walls, those who write blog articles and
share ebooks with their community. Not only will you learn something you may not have had access to before, but just by growing your connections with valid people makes you seem more desirable as a candidate. It shows that you value personal development in your professional life, and that is a positive quality no matter what industry you’re aiming to work in.
2. Follow Companies You Admire Or Aspire to Work For
This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about their company, what they do, and who they are looking for. Companies often post job openings directly on LinkedIn, and if you’re following them you’ll be the first to know. This also presents a unique perspective for you to understand what is important to the workers at that company. Take time to look over their posts, their company description and who works for them. In the future if you ever do find yourself interviewing, you will come across as educated not only about the industry, but more specifically about that company. Take notes and think about how you could relate to some of the events or even how you could make a situation better. Potential employers want to know how you can make their job easier, right off the bat you’ll impress them with your knowledge of their current events.
3. Connect With Employees At Companies You’re Interested In
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but some LinkedIn members aren’t sure how to go about connecting with people they don’t know. LinkedIn has a great tool called “how you’re connected” that appears on everyone’s profile you visit. Most likely, there is someone you both know. If this is the case, have that person introduce you. If you don’t share any connections, don’t let that stop you! This person and yourself already have two things in common, you’re both socially savvy and you both want to (or already do) work in FM. Be sure to make it personal though, and write a brief but thoughtful message in your connection request. Comment on an article they shared, or mention you’ve worked with someone from their company in the past, or even that you just want to meet people in your industry.
LinkedIn is much more open than other social sites, and people tend to not be as reserved with whom they allow connections with. Everyone understands the more quality connections you have, the greater your career reach and personal brand will be.
4. Join Groups That Post Opportunities
Many of the FM groups have their “opportunities” section open. Check out the groups you are already a part of, to see if anything has been added that may fit your career needs and your previous expertise. Also, there are a few groups that most mainly openings in the FM sector. Here are a few that we have found:
Tip to remember: It is in poor taste to ask for something immediately following a new connection. Offer to do something for them first, maybe endorse one of their skills, congratulate them on a work anniversary or comment on their recent post. You want to avoid coming across as self-absorbed. Taking the time to nourish your relationships will make people much more likely to help you when you do need them. And always remember to return the favor if someone does make that first introduction for you or helps get your resume in the right hands. It helps the social world work, and benefits us all in the end.
