As an entrepreneur your goal should always be to further develop repeat business, referrals and testimonials. Job seekers and those who wish to further their careers need to foster past connections. Sometimes though we fall down on building relationships or even remaining in touch.
Regroup and reconnect
The holidays are a perfect time to regroup and reconnect. This does not have to be a huge expenditure although it will take time implementing. The rewards make the time allotment well worthwhile.
When it is your turn, mention specifically the type of job you are seeking or the project on which you are concentrating and your preferred audience.
2. Choose whether you will send a traditional greeting card or an electronic one to those who have helped you in the past or with home you wish to get your toe in the door.
3. The lasting impression is best made with a traditional card.
Whichever you decide, I can tell you that your card will be appreciated because most people do not go to all this trouble.
Standing out with little cost
As a job seeker, you will truly stand out in the crowd when you send a thoughtful card to the hiring manager of a company that has delayed making a candidate selection.
Think about it – no one takes offense by a thank you. Instead, we all wish our work was appreciated just a teensy bit more and we relish those occasional cards.
The message inside the card should reflect who you are and be appropriate for the receiver. Receipt of these cards containing a sincere message of appreciation, your name and phone number underneath stand a very high chance of sitting on the recipients’ desks for a while making you noticed and remembered for certain, and very possibly referred or HIRED! This is the ideal of most marketing experts. Your greeting card is also a fabulous tool for business development and building relationships with serious prospects, clients and hiring companies.
An added holiday sales tip:
Job seekers: after your interview during the holidays, (any holiday) wish everyone a happy holiday as you leave the premises.
Business people: purchase miniature candy bars for your appointments. Be generous. Bring candy for the receptionist, doorman and whomever else with whom you may come into contact. With a big smile, wish the recipient a wonderful holiday prior to beginning your appointment.
These techniques build relationships and business beautifully, working wonders for your bottom line.
For added insight on these tips, I included a great story about a Guard with guns at his side who scared the crap out of me once upon a time in my book, Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results. Additional career advice may be found
in HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews.
