The millionaire matchmaker helps people who are successful in every area of their lives but one–meeting the right person. In a similar style if not quite the same purpose, you could hire someone to introduce you to the “right people” for your job search.
When you’re in job search, it can be confusing about which services to use. It drives me crazy for anyone to say they know THE way to find a job. There are many ways to make that connection that leads you straight to a great job. How do you choose?
What worked for me when trying to decide what to do while in job search, and what I always encourage my clients to do, is decide what makes sense to you. I violated a lot of the “rules” in job search and still ended up with fabulous jobs I found through the hidden job market.
So I’m just going to share some thoughts on using the introduction services some consultants offer. I hope this will help you decide what’s right for you. My only goal is to help you decide; I don’t have a bias for or against these kinds of services.
Here are the questions I would ask if I were wondering about whether contracting with someone (and paying them) for introductions made sense for me.
- Who does this person know that I cannot or should not call on my own?
- What leads me to believe the people I would like to meet would not want to hear from me directly?
- What does this person say that will get the person I want to meet to agree that I cannot or should not say?
- Am I going to be introduced to people I really want to meet or people who happen to be known to the matchmaker or on a list without any connection to the job I want?
- What about people I want to meet who aren’t on this person’s list of known contacts? How do I get to meet them?
- Am I buying this service to avoid: a) deciding who specifically what I want to meet and/ or b) having to pick up the phone myself? Or am I buying this service because I believe it will expedite my job search?
- If I were on the receiving end of the introduction, would I feel honored to be asked or would I be confused about why the person didn’t call me themselves?
- What specifically are the people to whom I will be introduced going to be told about me? Asked to do?
- What message do I send to the person on the receiving end about me? Does it say I am willing to call on experts to do what they do best? Does it say I don’t dare make contact myself?
- If I were on the receiving end, would I be more or less eager to talk to someone who called me themselves without a go-between?
- Does having someone else contact these people make them feel honored or a little insulted that I didn’t make the contact directly?
If you ask yourself some good questions, you will know what to do.
So pick someone to call, get your script out, and pick up the phone. Get your FREE scripts here.
Let me know how it is going, and never hesitate to give me a call if you have any questions.
Wishing you the best!
Katherine
And of course, be sure to get this interview guide. Use it and your next interview could be your last interview!