3 ways to help your friends help you find a job.

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This a guest post by Melissa Cooley. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines.

In a recent meeting with one of my clients, he expressed frustration over the fact that some people in his life are constantly sending him job postings that are not a good fit. “It’s not just about getting a job,” he said.

Do you have someone (or a few someones) like that in your life? It could be a casual acquaintance, a good friend, or even a member of your family. Well intentioned though they may be, the postings they keep sending you completely miss the mark.

Here are three tips for dealing with people whose job suggestions are falling flat:

1. Say “thank you”

Yes, you may be rolling your eyes when you get another email or direct message on your shared social networking site that says, “Here’s a great job opportunity for you!” when it’s not. But, they are in your corner and are really are trying to help. They mean well, so do the courteous thing and show a little appreciation for the thought.

2. Bring them into your world

Is the person who is sending you the postings even aware of what you want to do and your activities to make that happen? If you are actively changing careers (as my client is doing), tell him/her what you are doing to make the transition a reality – taking classes, volunteering, interning, etc. By showing your clear plan for where you want to go and conveying enthusiasm for the direction you are moving into, you are inviting them in to support you in ways that will fit in with that plan.

3. Kindly offer suggestions for how they can support you

I know this isn’t the most comfortable thing to do, but this job search is about you and your needs. It’s not about their need to feel good about helping you (which really isn’t help if it misses the mark). Yes, the person you are correcting may be flustered or embarrassed at first. However, if they really care about you, they will take the suggestions you give because they want to support you.

Following these three tips will be a great benefit to your job hunt. You won’t have to spend as much energy being frustrated over people’s misguided attempts to help, and your network will be able to work more efficiently for you because they know exactly what you want and need!

How else have you dealt with people who send you job postings that are a bad fit? Tell us in the comments.

About the Author

Melissa Cooley portraitMelissa Cooley is a career consultant with a passion for helping people develop strategies to reach their goals and maximize their potential. As the founder of The Job Quest, she partners with individuals who are seeking employment or facing the confusion of navigating a career path. Melissa provides a fresh perspective and other resources on her blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

This article is part of the 4th Annual JobMob Guest Blogging Contest, which was made possible thanks in large part to our Gold Sponsor, Jason Alba of JibberJobber. If you want Melissa Cooley to win, share this article with your friends.

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--Jacob Share

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