Happy New Year!

The holiday season has come to an end, and it’s time to return to work. For those looking for new jobs, 2023 brings new beginnings, new opportunities, and a year full of potentials.

January is a perfect time to reach out to companies to inquire about potential positions as recruiters and hiring managers validate their hiring budgets for the year. Up to 85% of positions are filled by networking, according to research from Zippia, especially in the first few weeks of the new year.

How should you go about reaching out?

“Happy New Year” is a perfect conversation starter, an easy entry point. When contacting someone, whether they are someone you have close ties with, or an acquaintance, it is important that you are strategic in who you contact. Target the right people for the right reasons!

Rather than saying “I’m looking for opportunities”, try to be more specific, i.e. “I’m looking for opportunities within the energy sector, specifically product manager roles.” By being detailed, the person you’re speaking to may think of an opening quicker.

Feel free to personalise the message. You could remind them of when you last met them, or mention that you’ve been keeping up-to-date with their work.

If you are reaching out to people you don’t know. getting noticed often causes many difficulties. The solution?…draw them in with a catchy or relevant message. Don’t make up fake interests just to start a conversation, be true to yourself. There will be undoubtedly be a common theme or subject you both can relate to.

Remember!

• Timing is key.
  Aim to send a message between 10:30am and 2:30pm, during the middle of the week, ideally Tuesday and Thursday.
   
• Keep in touch.
  Remind people of your existence. A quick check-in will go a long way – it’ll keep your name at the top of their minds and increase your visibility.
   
• Be precise!
  Being as detailed and precise as possible will allow the person you’re reaching out to associate your name with specific keywords.
   
• Keep it simple, short and sweet.
  Focus the attention of your message to the person you’re speaking to. We are naturally selfish creatures – so make them feel special.
   

Make sure to utilise this month to network, you never know what opportunity might arise from it.