Smart Strategies for Helping Your Friend with Job Search

When friends need help, our normal instinct is to do whatever we can to “fix” the problem. But, when it comes to something as big, personal and stressful as looking for a new job, this isn’t always the best approach. Instead it takes listening to them, understanding where they are in the process, and employing a lot of tact.

1. Listen First

Always keep in mind that you are not their job consultant. You should first allow them to give vent to their frustration or express their concern uninterrupted. Then, follow up with questions to clearly understand if they are simply blowing off stream from a terrible day or really aiming for an organized job search. Furthermore, don’t make presumptions that your game plan fits your friend’s as well.

2. Assess Your Role

Getting pretty fair idea of what your friend’s looking for, don’t start rattling off ideas and suggestions just yet. Notice the look on their face to make sure you aren’t running the train.

You can offer a couple of suggestions which can incorporate:
a. Brainstorming lists of friends or jacks.
b. Introducing your previous recruiters.
c. Passing information about the jobs you’ve come across lately or in the recent past.
d. Refer their resume to all the prospective employers.

3. Outsourcing Job hunt

You can also offer direct help by recommending your friend to specific people who might be useful and introducing to a hiring manager. However, a word of caution would be you’ve to be in a remotely related field and see if you could vouch for the person’s efficiency and professionalism. This is because the recommendation will be a direct reflection on you.

4. Manage Expectations

Most importantly, give an in-depth thought to what you desire to do to help your friend and what’s the ground reality of accomplishing your willingness. Be careful not to over promise. It raises their expectations, put you in an outwardly awkward situation, increases the risk of failure and leaves a negative impression all around.

5. Never personalize the commitment

You should always remember that if your friend is not informing you on his advancements, you need not feel offended at all. The job hunting process may be long, painstaking and he may not be at the same pace than you would’ve expected.

As an overall and fine note, just be there when they need you, and don’t forget- your role may be reversed somewhere down the line.