Job-Hunting and The Benefits of Asking Family and Friends for Help

Job-Hunting Starts at Home

Are you finding it difficult to find a job? Perhaps perusing newspapers, job fairs and online recruitment sites have led you to come up short? That’s where your family and friends come in!

Sure, your loved ones may not be able to instantly hire you on the spot as a top executive at their family-owned company or as the head chef of their restaurant. However, they may be in the position to give you access to the right connections that can make your job search much easier. What’s more, they’ll be able to provide you with the guidance and moral support you need.

Turning to Kith and Kin

Reaching out to family and friends and asking them for potential job opportunities sounds daunting. After all, one may think that asking anyone – let alone your loved ones – for help is a sign of weakness and that one will be judged for it.

On the contrary, asking for help should not be viewed as a negative. It takes a great deal of personal strength to not only approach others in times of need, but also to acknowledge your shortcomings and do something about them. Plus, you will save yourself a lot of time, effort and aggravation, which can be wasted and increased, respectively, if you continue unsuccessfully exploring other avenues by yourself.

To reach out, arrange face-to-face meetings with your loved ones with the specific goal of asking for help in your job-hunt. If it makes you feel more comfortable, send them a personalised email or call them.

What You Should Know

When communicating with your family and friends for assistance in your job-hunt, consider the following tips:

1. Be Clear

It’s important to highlight your skills and work experience. For example, if you’re interested in computer software and seeking an internship, and your friend’s parents are both active in the IT sector, you would do well to talk to them (or message them). If needs be, you will likely need to send in the relevant documentation (CV, portfolio and cover letter) that will properly convey your interest and character.

2. Find Leads

Your friends and family may not necessarily be in the same field as you, but they may know others who are. For example, if you’re pursuing a career as an artist, they might know someone who works at a museum or gallery. Ask them if they know anyone in your chosen industry, ask for their contact details and take it from there.

3. Do Some Networking

Networking on online platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn allows you to not only share and discuss your thoughts with like-minded people, but to also make prospective employers aware of you, show them that you’re serious and interested about your chosen industry, and that you have the potential to align with their brands, all of which can increase your chances of being hired.

Ask your family and friends if they know of anyone who’s worth following. Additionally, ask them if they know someone personally – that way, you can potentially explore job opportunities that you didn’t know about before.

4. Attend Events

Sometimes you just need a wingman who is properly invested in your success and wants to help you achieve it. One of your friends and/or family members can vouch for you at their work functions or at job fairs, keep your spirits up and boost your confidence levels. Plus, potential employers can see your true personality shine through while in familiar company.

5. Be Grateful

Whether it’s setting you on the right path towards getting a job or just being your personal cheerleaders, your family and friends deserve to know how grateful you are. When speaking to them face-to-face, on the phone or via emails, remember to thank them for their assistance and express how much you appreciate their efforts. This keeps the line of communication open between you, which is ideal if you’re still in need of practical and emotional support, or if you want to keep them updated on your progress, etc.

Behind You All The Way

With these tips in mind, approaching your family and friends for assistance will seem less daunting and will hopefully simplify your job search. Good luck!