A great post. Will be putting it on my blog links for the day and linking on Twitter.

One idea to add if/when using an email signature, add your LinkedIn URL.

3. Use email to announce your job loss to everyone you know

Many people hold back from telling people about a job loss. Maybe it’s out of embarrassment or possibly hurt pride. But their’s no need to be embarrassed. If you’ve been laid off, then you really need people’s help and support right now – both in dealing with a lay off and with finding new work.

So send the email to EVERYONE you know. Family, friends, ex-colleagues, ex-clients, ex-suppliers, neighbours, ex-School friends – everyone. But remember you’re sending the email to inform these people about what is happening in your career and life – not to ask for anything.

Keep the email short and simple – inform people of your job loss, give them your home email and mobile phone number. Maybe add a ‘it would be good to connect in the coming weeks whilst you have time on my hands’ type comment at the end.

And that’s it.

I can guarantee that it will result in a flurry of supportive emails. Some will result in requests for you to send a resume, some in phone calls and coffee’s to catch up with people, who like, know and trust you. In addition to making you feel really good about yourself, you’ll have subtly taken the first step in enrolling your network to assist you.

In the current market, there are plenty of people sending emails asking for things – contacts, leads, requests to forward their resume on. To stand out, you need to lead with generosity and helping the recipient of the email (instead of asking for something). Which will also create some good karma that has the help coming back to you! Here are a couple other ways to use email:

1. Connect individuals in your network with each other via email because they would be useful contacts for each others careers

It’s a selfless act which strengthens your relationship with your network, helps you stand out in people’s minds as a connector and very often results in contacts and opportunities coming back to you (but like a boomerang they often come from other sources – so don’t worry about that same person helping you)

2. Forwarding articles, blogs, audio and video clips of something your friends and professional contacts would benefit from.

But ensure the content is a) related to your area of expertise and profession and b) relevant to the individual you’re emailing.

When you follow the above points genuinely and consistently (and have your signature at bottom of your emails as you suggest!) you draw in career opportunities and contacts like a magnet instead of having to chase for them

Sital

I can’t help but feel lately, however, that with Facebook messaging, LinkedIn messaging, Twitter and other social media messaging, email is less and less “viral” for those seeking work.

Of course, you want to cover all the bases, and email might still be king. But I get the sense that the higher return on investment of time and energy is — little by little — moving away from email.

Best regards,

Clint S. Miller
govtcontractorjobs@gmail.com
http://govtcontractorjobs.blogspot.com/

I also think it’s important to try to help each other out as much as possible these days, and will definitely go through my list and see what I can do.