Significant Career Lesson From a Resource Manager at Mercer
Michelle's significant career lesson is that networking and building relationships are crucial for job success; "every job that I have gotten...was through people I know," with a current role secured simply by casually mentioning a job search to a friend.
Networking, Job Search, Career Development, Communication, Building Relationships
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michelle Reid
Resource Manager
Mercer
University of Texas at Austin
NA
Advertising, Public Relations
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Human Resources (HR)
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Networking is crucial for career advancement: Michelle emphasizes the significant role of personal connections in securing job opportunities. Many of her jobs stemmed from conversations with friends and acquaintances who knew about her career goals and were able to refer her for suitable positions.
2. Leverage your network passively: Rather than directly asking for jobs, Michelle suggests casually discussing career aspirations with your network. This allows people to keep you in mind when relevant opportunities arise.
3. Be open to unexpected opportunities: Michelle's current role came about from an unexpected conversation with a friend. This highlights the importance of being open to exploring new opportunities, even if they initially seem outside your comfort zone or specific career path.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant throughout your career?
I've noticed, through my own experience, that getting jobs is often more about who you know than being the best person for the job or interviewing spectacularly. This might be an unpopular opinion, but it's something I've seen time and again.
Every job I've gotten since college, except for maybe two, came through people I already knew. It just worked out that they were either working somewhere that was hiring and knew about a role.
So, it really is about who you know. Definitely talk to your friends, their parents, and family friends about your career goals. Don't necessarily ask them for a job, but just discuss your aspirations.
This way, they'll know what you might be interested in and can think of you if they come across something suitable. For me, I got my current job through a friend I've known since middle school.
We were catching up after college and I mentioned I wasn't happy in my current job and was starting to look for new opportunities. She immediately said, "Come work for my company; they're hiring entry-level positions and I really like it here."
I didn't even know what the job entailed, but I was ready for a change. I interviewed, and it turned out to be a great fit. I've been there for seven years now, all because I casually mentioned wanting a new job to a friend.
So, while it's not about actively venting, it's about bringing up your job search. Let people know you're looking for opportunities. Don't directly ask if they have a job in mind, but just talk about it.
This way, they might think of you or someone they know who would be happy to help you on your career path. This is the thing I've noticed most – that it's often about your friends and the people you know who can inadvertently help you.
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