Network, network, network - TM and PMI

I could not make it to April 8, 2009 Star Search meeting. Instead, I attended Volunteer Appreciation Dinner from PMI Silicon Valley Chapter. It was a nice get together with good folks I came to network with in the last couple of years. I met Tom Kendrick who is the President-Elect for the chapter and also the author of 'Results without Authority', a Project Management book that is part of Personal MBA program. I asked him how he feels about his book being part of the curriculum. He was surprised that they have his book in the list and was happy, of course.

Before, I delve too much into the dinner time discussions, let me share my views on volunteering. In the last couple of years I came to appreciate a lot the value of volunteering. With PMI, it has helped me keep in tune with the industry trends, learn different leadership/communication styles and just feel great to be part of nice people. There is so much to learn from different people. TM volunteering also helped me learn many things whether it is the role of Treasurer. assisting VP Membership or taking the role of President, you get out of the comfort zone and learn some new things.  

Getting back to the dinner time, Past President Srinivas Ramkuri asked us what goal we had when we grew up. It is like Table Topics in TM. I was surprised how comfortable I was when my turn came to speak. I was using eye contact, hand gestures and voice variety that I could not believe myself. Hats off to TM! 

I was sitting next to my friend Mahmood Khan, Director of Professional Dev for the Chapter. He is another amazing guy who does so much to the chapter all the time. He is a great mentor to many people. He told me that by taking a career workshop conducted by professionals he recommends and then using his framework, one can land a job in 30 days! Sounds unbelievable! But as I listened to his approach, it made sense to me. His approach to job search is more holistic than posting resumes and chasing websites. Here is how I could summarize some parts of his approach:

1) Develop a good network (takes time but it is never too late) and try to find job postings or positions through the network and find out the needs of the hiring manager. Customize your application (or cover letter) so that it addresses the needs of the hiring manger. This sounds tough but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. As hiring manager myself, I struggled with bunch of resumes. I would like to have some one approach with a proposal on how he/she can solve my issues and would be best fit to my open position.

2) Talk to the recruiters and find out what the hiring manager is looking for. Ask them to find out more. Email and websites are not sufficient by themselves. Human touch (i.e. phone call) is very important.

3) Positioning your profile/skills right for the job. You can not be everything to everybody.  The more you know about yourself the more confident you feel.

I am going to try and see what happens.

There is always something to learn from the network and the best way to build network is by volunteering.

There is a saying along the lines - "what you give others you get it back, what you get from others you lose". 

I think we get more by giving some time in volunteering.

Regards,

Shashi.