Tom McAlister started looking for a job in marketing and communications at the end of 2008, about the same time the economy really started falling apart.
He sent out resumes, just like everyone else. He monitored the jobs boards, just like everyone else. And he always tried to write snappy cover letters, just like everyone else.
That’s when he decided he had to do something to set himself apart. He came up with the idea to create a comic book strip with himself as the superhero, Brandman.
The strip was funny, innovative, but it wasn’t necessarily for hiring managers. It’s main use was to reenergize the key people that could help him land a job — his network of friends and former colleagues.
What? Energize your friends and former colleagues? Yes.
So many people are out of work, and so many of us career writers are telling them to network, network, network; but we don’t think about the negative byproducts. Many of the employed individuals out there may be experiencing a bit of help-a-friend-who’s-out-of-work fatigue.
That’s why I think it’s a brilliant idea to think of ways you can get your networking circle to get excited about recommending you.
McAlister would give the comic strip to his contacts or to people he knew at companies he wanted to work for, and those contacts would be pumped about passing it along…much more pumped than they would have been just passing along a boring resume. Makes sense no?
Suddenly the guy or gal recommending you can also feel cool and hip because they know a guy who has his own comic strip, and they can feel good about recommending someone that really will bring creativity to a company.
“It gave my recommenders a level of energy and enthusiasm, they may have had, but it was easier for them to go to the well with people they knew,” he explained. “I was going to the well a lot with friends, and friends of friends.”
In mid January of 2009, he made up a hard copy comic book to go along with the website, and did a mailing to a bunch of contacts, and also people he had interviewed with. And he even packaged the books in Mylar, just like real comic books come in.
A former boss of his received the comic strip and passed it along to a woman at Beck Media & Marketing with a recommendation to hire McAlister for a freelance gig. And that led to a job offer there this past June.
Not everyone is going to go out and create a comic strip, nor should everyone. McAlister describes himself as a geeky comic-book lover so this idea was a natural for him.
You have to come up with your own plan to set yourself apart, and tailor it to the industry you’re trying to land a job in. Even taking a contact out for a cup of coffee, or sending them a personalized note or homemade cookies could help energize your pooped out networking circle.
“Lots of people were hitting up people for contacts and stuff,” McAlister noted. “I was able to go to people deluged from all sides and swim to the front by having this thing.”
What might help you swim out in front of the in-need-of-networking-help mob? Share your ideas here and we’ll tell you if you’re on the money or nuts.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Thank you for this post, but my thanks are for something barely mentioned. Employed friends and business associates are experiencing “networking fatigue.” I know I am. I am fatigued by people who were not really all that nice to me in the past who now try to be my BFF. It is clear what they are trying to accomplish. They don’t really want to be my “friend,” nor do they want to learn anything from me or help me. They want me to get them a job. I don’t know the skills, abilities or work ethic of many of my new BFF wannabes. Why would I put my reputation on the line to recommend someone I barely know? Why aren’t these people trying to build some type of relationship with me and others to share their skills, abilities and a bit of their personaility so that we can feel confident making a job recommendation?
Then there are the BFF wannabes that I am familiar with because I have worked with them in the past. These folks seem to almost ticked off in their emails and voice mails to me because I HAVE NOT LANDED A JOB FOR THEM. Two of my former colleagues have taken the extremely annoying position to challenge my worth with emails stating “I guess you don’t have any pull at your company” and “I have to assume you don’t have the authority to make hiring decisions.” I feel these people are trying to goad me into getting them a job so I can prove they are wrong about me. It is a shame they have taken this route because both have the skill set our company could use but I am not making recommendations for either of them.
Oh how I wish the “networkers” who are trying to use me would be creative and fun with a bit of sincerity. I would put time into helping someone that I felt was genuine in their request to build a lasting professional relationship to benefit both of us. The networkers who are out to use whatever connections they’ve ever had for their own purpose are annoying and are not likely getting much help from me.
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:42 pm
OMG, Donlyn. Anyone that bullies you by questioning your “pull” at a company needs to be set aside. I know people are desperate and angry, but that’s no right to push you around. You can help the people you respect and can honestly feel comfortable recommending, but you are doing an injustice to yourself and the so-called BFF if you recommend them, especially in your company.
It’s important for us to be good individuals and help our fellow women and men, but you also have to make sure you’re putting your reputation on the line for someone you know can do the job. If not, you can end up hurting your own career.
February 26th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Wow. I know there’s a lot of desperation and anger out there, but please! Contacts are first and foremost, human beings. I always try to remember that. Preferring to deal with reality, the fact is that the universe may not always seem fair, but is always just. It’s the law of sowing and reaping. My one year “not employed” anniversary is coming up soon, but I have met and am cultivating many wonderful, valuable friends on this journey. Believe me, I will not conveniently forget their support and kindness whether I at last either become an employee or a contractor. My mother taught me to treat people as I would want to be treated. Why are we seeing such a lack of humanity these days? I really like the “Brand Man” comic. It made me laugh and inspired me to dig deeper into “Brand Me” to come up with something to distinguish myself in the market.