How To Get a Job The Insider Way

By Anna Johnson

As discussed in The Truth About How To Get a Job, an Insider is someone with whom a company has a pre-existing, positive relationship.

You don't have to be an employee with the company to be an Insider... but you do need to be someone they know, like and trust.

Or, more specifically, someone that a key individual within the company knows, likes and trusts.

So how do you do that when... you don't already have a relationship with the company?

Well, there are essentially three (3) steps to becoming an Insider with a company:

1. Identify who has the ability to hire or recommend you within the company - a "decision maker".

2. Be proactive in starting a relationship with this decision maker.

3. Clearly convey your trustworthiness, professionalism and abilities in all your interactions with this decision maker.

Now, you may be wondering, "How do I find out who the decision maker is?" and "How do I start a relationship with them if they don't know me from a bar of soap?"

Well, it's not as hard as you think!

In fact, the first part - working out whom to "target" - has never been easier... thanks to the Internet.

The second part can be challenging, but there are a number of approaches you can use to begin a relationship with a decision maker.

For instance, if you have a mutual friend or colleague, ask them to introduce you.

Or write and call the decision maker and offer to take them out for a coffee.

Or join a professional association and attend industry events where you're likely to meet the decision maker.

The options are limitless.

Really, the only tough part of trying to get to know a decision maker is overcoming your own shyness or lack of confidence.

Well, there's a saying that if you have a big enough WHY, the HOW will take care of itself (or something like that!)

So keep reminding yourself of WHY you're trying to develop a relationship with a decision maker... and if the reason is powerful enough, it will carry you through all the difficulties (perceived or otherwise).

Getting a job is a pretty good reason, right?

As for the last item - conveying your trustworthiness, professionalism and abilities - well, that's almost a given. It shouldn't be difficult if you genuinely have what it takes to do the job.

Now, all this may sound rather simplistic - and, frankly, the actual details of how to build relationships and use all the other Insider strategies fill an entire book: Insider Job Secrets Revealed.

But for now, I hope I've given you a general idea of what it takes to be an Insider when you're not already one!