5 Ways to Job-it-Forward
J.T. O'Donnell
Founder & CEO, Work It DAILY | Board of Directors, McCoy | Career & Professional Development | Job Search | HR & Recruiting | Employer Branding | Recruitment Marketing | Talent Management | Executive Coaching
The term “job-it-forward” came from a discussion I was having with fellow career columnist, Dale Dauten. Back in 2009, we were chatting about how important paying-it-forward would be in the recession. People need to help one another connect to the hidden job market as a way to shorten job search and reduce unemployment. Example: There are an estimated 26M people unemployed or under-employed in the U.S. right now, but a guestimated 9M+ job openings, many of which are not publicly posted. Dale said to me, “It’s a specific form of paying-it-forward. It’s really a job-it-forward effort that needs to occur.”
Since then, Dale and I have talked repeatedly about the ways in which we’ve seen people get creative and help others in their job search. Recently, I had an experience at a highway toll booth that reminded me of just how important job-it-forward efforts are.
Job-it-Forward: 5 Simple Options
We all have the capacity to job-it-forward on a regular basis. However, like flossing our teeth, it’s one of those things many people forget to do. Here are five things all of us could do this week to job-it-forward:
- Take 10 minutes to find two people who should know each other and send an email introduction to them both telling them why you admire each one and why they should connect.
- Write an unsolicited recommendation on Linkedin for someone you know who is between jobs and could use the ego boost.
- Reach out to 5 colleagues you haven’t talked to in over a year and see if they have any openings at their company that you could share with your network.
- Post a link to an article or resource on your Linkedin feed that you found particularly helpful.
- Follow through on a request to connect in your Linkedin inbox and see if can facilitate an introduction for the person to someone you know that works at a company on their interview bucket list.
What Other Ways do You Job-it-Forward?
Tell me about your greatest job-it-forward stories. I’d love to hear how making an effort like this paid off for you or those you tried to help.
If you want to read more of what I've written, check out my articles on Inc.com.
P.S. - First time reading my posts? Thanks for taking the time to stop by! Not only do I write for Linkedin, but I'm also founder of a popular career advice site,CAREEREALISM,and currently run the career coaching program,CareerHMO. I hope you'll check them both out!
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CAREEREALISM’s Founder, J.T. O’Donnell is a nationally syndicated career expert and workplace consultant who helps American workers of all ages find greater professional satisfaction. Her book, CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career, outlines her highly successful career-coaching methodology. Purchase her e-book of CAREEREALISM for only $9.95 by clicking here !
Photo: Shutterstock.com
Heart-Centred Leadership / L&D / Communications Specialist ERS | Risk Management, Cert NLP Master Pract
8 年J.T. O'Donnell - Career Insights - I really like how you think! Most of these are now everyday habits I live by. It's particularly rewarding to recognise when two people would benefit from a connection and make a virtual introduction, especially when they finally meet and both send an email thanking me for the introduction, that they really enjoyed the meeting (and eventually did some business together). Also every article I come across, i am always thinking "Who else might find this interesting?" - I share on LinkedIn and via email. Now many of my contacts have started reciprocating in kind. In today's increasingly 'VUCA' business environment, collaboration and connection are vital for survival and any hope of thriving. Thanks again for the reminder - I have bookmarked for future reference and will be looking at who else might be interested in this!
Operations Management Professional
8 年Nice article. Yes we should help each other to find or recommend a job. In my point of view "Job-it-Forward" is an attitude and we must have this attitude towards the people in need of a job.
Founder @ LetUsPlayToLearn | Social Networking, Coaching & Mentoring | Guest Faculty, IIT Madras, PPD
8 年This is just so awesome and amazing. Simple and very practical tips that we can all do to help each other.
CEO @ Concrete Engine | Harvard Executive Education
9 年Funny I just wrote a similar article on smart networking and job-ing forward !! It is a great article showing simple ways of professional success !!