Job Search Strategies for Introverts

I just finished reading Wendy Gelberg’s book, The Successful Introvert: How to Enhance Your Job Search and Advance Your Career. Wendy offers several excellent approaches for retooling a job search to make the process more fruitful and enjoyable for people who consider themselves introverts and struggle with promoting themselves during a job search. Here are a few of my favorite takeaways:�

• Interviews

1.  Bring a portfolio of your work to the interview to showcase your strengths. A portfolio can speak volumes about your accomplishments. A portfolio might include reports you have done, testimonials from vendors, quotes from performance reviews, or letters of thanks from satisfied customers.
2. Tell your stories of success in a factual, reporting style manner. This helps you convey an authentic message of value that is not hyperbole or bragging.

• Networking

1. Good networkers are also good listeners. Focus on the other person and their needs and take the spotlight off yourself. When you are a good listener, most people think you are excellent at making conversation!
2. Think of networking as seeking advice rather than asking for help. When you understand that networking is not about asking for favors, you may be more inclined to do it. 
3. Use online resources to gain a comfort with networking. Online networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter can be great equalizers for people who are introverted. Introverts like to think before they respond and with online networking, you can craft and tweak your emails and posts before hitting send.

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