We're All Temps, Right? Here's a Tip That Works

I ran into an article at CubicleRules.com called “5 Strategies to Survive in a World of Permanent Temps” and one line in particular sprung out at me. It says,

“Yes, we’re all temps now — but we aren’t ready for the role”

The article discusses how even high level corporate positions are temporary. You can’t assume you’ll have a long term history at any firm.

Now I’m old enough to remember when we used to take job security for granted. You could count on companies like IBM to induct a lot of employees into their quarter century clubs. It happened every month. They gave out gold watch and refreshments as a sign of appreciation for their loyalty.

Boy, are those days behind us.

I’m not so much flabbergasted that the club days are over. I am concerned that many of us run our careers as if long term corporate employment were a given.

• We don’t save.
• We live on the assumption the next paycheck will follow the last one.
• We sink large amounts of money into our company’s stock.
• We don’t network professionally outside our companies.

Dudes and dudettes– wake up out there. That’s the perfect formula for disaster!

So given this reality, what’s one thing I recommend to my clients? What’s the one thing can make a difference over anything else.

Network!

This may sound overly simplistic and at the same time something unnatural, self-serving and very uncomfortable. If you’ve never done it — it should be. So let me share with you a VERY simple formula to kick start your networking.

Go through your email contact list (or Rolodex if you’re still tied to paper and pencil) and select two dozen professional contacts you swear, promise, cross your heart and hope to die that you will contact once every twelve weeks. There’s some very simple math here. You take two people and you assign them to your calendar for the next twelve Monday’s. Every Monday, write their names in your planner and make a point of calling them sometime during that week. If they don’t pick up, leave a message saying you’re just trying to reconnect and you’ll try back later. Leave a number so if they prefer to call you back, that can.

I recommend using the phone making it as personal as possible. If you don’t know what to say, keep it simple.

“I was looking though my contact list and bumped into your name.”

You really did.

Then have an authentic, non-scripted conversation. Be yourself. Be interested. Be helpful.

See, there is another simple rule — people will help, hire, bond with and support other people that they Know, Like and Trust. Build these characteristics into your relationships.

Once you get through the first twelve weeks, you can either:

• start all over again with the same people,
• drop a few people and replace them with new ones, or
• pick a new double dozen to call.

By this time, you’ll have formed a habit and you’ll know what to do next. A few other things you may consider. When you run into interesting articles, make a point of forwarding them to some of your new contacts. If you run into a job hunter (and boy is it easy to run into those now a day), introduce them to your contacts to see if they can help. Take a very “pay it forward” approach focused on helping others.

As you branch out to people you don’t know but have recently met or been referred to, dump the “me.” The focus should be all about them…. I’d like to learn more about you and what you do…..then, become the “aspirin to their headache”…. In other words, provide solutions to their problems through your expertise, referrals you can provide, or resources you can suggest.

I’m sure over a short period of time, your newly reconnected friends will begin to consider you part of their inner circle of contact. Then those will become the people that will catch a lifeline you throw them when you and your current employer decide to part ways.