I got this article from my friend and PR Chick, Jill Bode who used my article with a twist. I really like it so I asked her if she would post it as my guest blogger. If you are interviewing for a job, these are tips you might want to remember.
If you are using networking as one of the ways you look for a new job (and you should be), be sure that you arent leaving out 50% of the population. You see the thing is, not everyone networks the same way. In a recently released book Business Networking and Sex (not what you think) authors Dr. Ivan Misner, Hazel Walker and Frank DeRaffele took the topic of gender differences in networking head on.
What they found was that women and men network differently and if you understand the differences and can apply the right techniques strategically, you stand a far better chance of landing the job of your dreams.
- Men want to know WHAT. Men focus on establishing credibility as quickly as possible. They like to list accomplishments and affiliations that show them in the most favorable light. If you are a woman who is speaking to a male potential employer, take a page from the men and spend a few minutes highlighting yourself. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but it can help you gain credibility faster with men.
- Women want to know WHO. Women tend to focus on establishing visibility and this can take a little more time. Women want to know how you are connected to other people and organizations and what things you may have in common. As a man, this may feel a little unbusinesslike, but if you have a chance to talk about a possible job with a woman, take the time to ask her questions and try to see what connections you may both share.
- But WHY? The goal of networking in a gender-specific way is to use the best of both genders to help make strong connections that can aid in finding and landing your next job. So the next time you are at a networking event, try adapting your networking style to the gender of the person you are talking to and see what happens.
So if you are looking for a job the more that you understand about the person interviewing you the more likely you are to have success and maybe get the job.
