A friend was visiting with a member of her family during a recent gathering. They told my friend about a job opening at their workplace. It was a remote job…a work from home opportunity with good pay and benefits. The next day, my friend sent in her resume, and two days later she had an interview.
In the past month I have: referred a couple of friends to job openings I knew about; received a phone call regarding someone who used me as a reference when they applied for a job; and met with a graduate of the Remote Work Certificate Course to help her prepare for an interview.
In the Remote Work Certificate course, offered through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, many strategies are taught to build up your connections, because connections increase your chance of landing a good job. One of those strategies is social media, which can reach a lot of people with little time or effort. The most fruitful connections, however, will most likely be your direct personal connections. You do not get referred if you do not connect with someone in a way that makes them trust you enough to refer you. Personally, in every job I’ve had except my first job, I had a personal connection that made the interview possible. Connections matter!
Important reminder: while the connections help you find the opportunities, and may help you land the interview, you still have to do your homework and work hard in preparing for the interview.
If you have a thirst for knowledge, know your strengths and want to work on them, and are thinking about getting into the remote workforce, check out the Remote Work Certificate course. The next class begins January 4…application deadline is December 29.
