Your Retail Job Search

Are you in the retail industry & find yourself searching for a new job?

What if we did this together? So if you know me, I believe in the power of a network. If you don't know me, I am a co-founder of RETAIL NETWORKING SOLUTIONS. RNS is a networking group founded on the idea that the retail community has a place for everyone and that if we come together, we can lift up the individual and the industry.

So let's just say it out loud; retail is changing, and sometimes it feels scary and uncertain. We are all facing new challenges. If you are working, lucky you. If you are in a job search, you are not alone. 

I have a challenge for every retail professional (working or not)- I am asking you to consider spending 15 minutes a day helping our industry by helping someone in our industry as they search for their next job. 

I usually ask because I am hoping to inspire someone on their next journey. Right now, I am hoping you will help someone so they can put food on the table, take care of their parents, kids, pets, and mental well being. 

Here is how YOU can make a difference:

STEP ONE:

If you are searching for a job - in every post or comment use the hashtag #retailjobsearch along with the job you are looking for (#salesassociate, #assistantmanager #storemanager, #districtmanager, #regionalmanager, #merchant, #designer, #planner, #visual, #RVM, RVP, etc).

If you are willing to help someone with their job search, use the hashtag #iaminretail in every post or comment (remember if you are unemployed, you can still help).

If you are posting a job use the hashtag #retailjob

Follow all three hashtags on LinkedIn so that anyone who uses these hashtags will show up in your feed. (see "manage hashtags to follow")

STEP TWO (the easy stuff):

• Spend five minutes a day "liking" every single retail job you see on LI - even if it is not your company since you can't hire everyone (I highly recommend the LI app - it makes it so easy when you find a minute of downtime).
• Accept every LI invite from our colleagues in the retail profession
• Join our LI group Retail Networking Solutions and either post your open jobs or an introduction and a little bit about your ideal job.

STEP THREE:

Scroll daily - find one person a week and pick one or more of these options:

•  Send them a note of encouragement on their search
• Give them a recommendation of a leader to reach out to 
• Tell them about a company that you know is hiring
• Offer to introduce them to someone 
• Be an advocate for the industry

Have leadership experience? Give your time.

STEP FOUR:

• Offer to review a resume
• Offer to do a mock interview
• Make an introduction

Before you sign off - remember the following:

If someone is helping you:

• Be respectful of their time
• Be open to listening
• Be prepared; bring questions
• Take some time to think about your strengths
• Remember, everyone is at different places with their networking skills so be grateful for the time & make it a learning experience

If you are helping someone:

• Let them tell their story
• Remember, it can be scary not to have a job
• Make only commitments that you can live up to or have time for (it is okay to have boundaries)
• Your job is not to fix it - just to support where you can

Finish your conversation with an agreement on commitments and the grace to understand we are all doing the best we can in this environment.

You got this! We got this! #leverageyournetwork

#iaminretail #bethedifference #retail #recruiter

Are you a RECRUITER in RETAIL who can commit 15 minutes a week to this retail support system? Leave your information on this post so others can find you.

Have an opening you are recruiting for? Put the URL to your job in the comments below!