Why Finding a Career Partner Can Lead to Greater Job Hunting Success

There are a multitude of tools and resources available to all of us when searching for a new job. One of the least utilized instruments, however, is to identify a career partner among your many social contacts. Look at this person as sort of a coach who can guide and steer you on the path to a better job.

In today's fast-paced and super-competitive job market, having a career partner can give your job hunt an enormous boost. Chances are the ideal candidate for this position already exists among your circle of friends and associates. You might be surprised by the many and diverse ways in which your friends can assist you in your quest. And they probably will jump at the opportunity to help you take the next step or two in climbing the career ladder.

Most of us will have a natural resistance to seeking a career partner, for a variety of reasons. Chief among them are the belief that a job search is more of a personal matter, that it's no one's business but yours. Or perhaps you believe that none of your friends would be willing to help you or know about enough about you to truly provide assistance. Maybe you're insecure about asking for help or feel you're too busy to search for the right career partner. The truth of the matter is the help you need is there for the taking, if you just know where to look.

An effective career partner can aid you in a number of ways, not the least of which is by building your confidence while interviewing by rehearsing tactics and strategies to make a good impression with your potential new boss. A second set of eyes is also useful to give input on your resume and cover letter.

Much like a sports coach who preps you for the next big game, so can a career partner perform the same duties.

They can supply you with information about corporate contacts that could enable you to get your foot in the door and even arrange introductions to key people who possess knowledge of the inner workings of companies you seek employment with. Furthermore, the right job hunting colleague can be a fountain of advice on what businesses are on the rise and which see their fortunes waning, just like a financial advisor.

So now that you see the efficacy of having a career partner, here are some smooth and subtle techniques that will prove useful to you in choosing and utilizing one. It's a basic psychological fact that we all want to feel needed. This obviously applies to your potential career mentor. Win them over by asking for their advice, but absolutely avoid asking them outright to help you find a job. This will create an awkward situation. Get around this by being upfront about your desire to explore new opportunities for advancement in the workplace. Tell them you simply want to bounce some ideas off them and just want some feedback.

Establishing trust with your career comrade-in-arms is a crucial component in your job search. You can use your job partner to arrange meetings with individuals who can be of vital importance. Be sure to assuage their concerns that you will use these introductions to ask for employment, which could paint your colleague in a poor light. Make certain it's know that this is just an information gathering stage.

Selecting a job mentor will go a long way toward helping guide you down the path of career advancement. The road is fraught with pitfalls, but with the right partner, you'll be able to steer clear of any bumps in the road.