PluggedIn - Paradigm Shift

Welcome to my LinkedIn series, PluggedIn. This series of articles will provide you clear insights surrounding professional development, networking strategies, and tips on how to navigate the most complex job market that our world has ever seen.

It's the perfect storm. Sky high unemployment. Incredibly lean internal talent acquisition departments. Nervous employees concerned about their job security. Markets are reacting like a teenager, with increased volatility, and we are still very uncertain of what is to come. How will COVID-19 progress? When will we find a suitable treatment, let alone a vaccine? Will there be another wave in the near future? How are consumer habits changing? Will these habits stick? How about office space? When will I be able to go to a Lightning game again? These are all important questions. When will we have those answers?

Answers don't matter. As a population, there comes a point in which we need to recognize and embrace the uncertainty and carry-on. At times, it is a natural reaction to become petrified by a change in circumstance, and it is almost expected, when we are living under this cloud of uncertainty. However, there is a antidote. That antidote is to take intentional action.

Take action. As I stated earlier, we are living through the most complex job market that anyone has ever experienced. Gone are the days in which you can sit idly by and wait for Recruiters to reach out to you or simply apply to job postings online. It. will. not. work. Just think about it. When the tide rolls back in and the job market starts to open back up, the understaffed internal talent acquisition teams are going to get bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes for each and every job that is posted online. If you thought applying online was a "black hole" before, then just wait! Just kidding... don't wait. I have a better idea. Start networking. Start networking yesterday. Networking shall set you free.

Take intentional action through effectively networking. I speak with hundreds of active job-seekers throughout the course of a year; It comes with the job. During those conversations, there is a consistent notion of discomfort whenever I tell people that they need to start networking. Why is that? Well, it is because people are going about it all wrong! I can confidently say that because I went about it all wrong for years before I finally changed my mindset, and ultimately, my entire networking approach. You see, when I embarked upon my networking journey several years ago I was new to Tampa, new(er) to my company, and new to networking in general. So, I did the most logical thing I could think of to expand my network. I blasted out messages on LinkedIn and started attending local networking events. Duh. I was that awkward sales guy striking up conversation about the spread of sandwiches that a local vendor supplied with anyone that would make eye contact with me. I was your biggest nightmare (as well as my own). On the plus side, I did end up meeting some very personable and patient people, whom I still keep in close touch with today. But, I wasn't getting any real tangible value out of the connections that I was making. It was ultimately just a really awkward experience and kind of a waste of time.

So, I flipped the script. I quickly realized that I needed to change my mindset when it came to networking. In order to accomplish that, I needed to change my perception of "value". As humans, we need to be able to compartmentalize the associated gains that we extrapolate from a certain activity.We need wins! So, I decided to craft my entire networking strategy around learning new skills and gaining new perspectives from people. I took a long hard look in the mirror and identified some areas of weakness of which I could set out to intentionally improve upon. I settled on (1) Public Speaking (2) Brand Development and (3) Leadership. I reached out to my immediate network and shared with them that I was looking to improve in those areas. I then asked three questions: (1) Who would you reach out to for Public Speaking advice here in Tampa? (2) Who would you reach out to for advice concerning Brand Development in Tampa? (3) Who would you reach out to for Leadership advice in Tampa? I would then ask, "Would you mind connecting me with them so I can pick their brain? I am really trying to intentionally develop in these areas. It would mean a lot to me!" This same strategy can be replicated for anyone, looking to learn anything. Whether you are a Software Engineer, a Data Architect or a Dog Walker. (No offense to my dog walkers out there. Honestly, sounds like a sweet gig!)

Admittedly, I am no Simon Sinek. I will not be giving TED talks any time soon. But I have really enjoyed the journey and I have met some amazing people using this strategy. You would be surprised how such a seemingly simple shift could be so effective. I now had something to talk about. I had questions to ask people. I had fresh new insights to gain. I had wins! Some of the people I connected with introduced me to other people, who introduced me to more people, who they felt might be able to help me in my pursuit of intentional development. Some of those people became strong mentors for me that have impacted my professional development in a BIG way.

I know what you are thinking. How does learning or developing a new skill set help me actually get in front of the right person and land a new job? The strategy from this point on is simple. Leverage your network that you have built in order to get in front of the right person. You have been having awesome conversations. You have asked if there is any way that you can help them, to show your gratification. You have helped. Every conversation at this point, has helped you to learn and build out your network with people who live in your market. All of this can be done with a plan and a Zoom account. Not only have you built a large network, but the people that you have connected with have unconsciously evolved into a Mentor for you. At the end of the day, it feels good to help people who need your expertise, and people like helping in areas that they are knowledgeable in. You have an army of Mentors to lean on to ask for introductions into different companies in the area... and you learned a thing or two along the way.

Happy Networking!

Bobby Hite

***Thank you for taking time to read this article. I am a Career Coach, Professional Networker and Relationship Management professional here in Tampa Bay. If you found this article helpful, please feel free to share with your network. Also, if you would like some help getting PluggedIn here in Tampa, send me a connection!***