Share Your Knowledge
Recently, a colleague and I were invited to conduct a short workshop for a student group at Clemson University. The topic: Job Search Strategies for New Graduates. We talked to them about the job market in South Carolina, how to write a resume and prepare for an interview, and the importance of internships. The students asked insightful questions and contributed anecdotes from their own career searches. We even shared some laughs about ridiculous resumes and bombed interviews. Before we knew it, two hours had passed. It was…fun. Seriously, a lot of fun. These were topics we had probably discussed a thousand times in the office, but sharing them with these students somehow gave them new life.
It got me thinking about how important it is for HR professionals to actively find ways to share their knowledge and experience with others. Why? I see three main reasons:
- We possess a wealth of information. We are knowledgeable of a subject that is relevant to every working professional and every person who will ever work. Think for a moment about the things you have learned in this business and the questions you are prepared to answer for people. Where do I start my job search? What should I say in an interview? How do I negotiate an offer or a raise? What should I do if I feel threatened at work?
- It helps others see you as an expert in your field. People will begin to associate you, consciously or subconsciously, with the subject you’re discussing or with your industry as a whole. You can become the “go-to person.”
- It makes you better. And I don’t mean better in the eyes of others. I mean just plain better. As our internal training specialist recently told me, teaching and sharing with others often forces you to look more closely at your craft. You examine. You question. You refine.
At this point, I hope that you have become convinced to step out of your comfort zone and share what you know. Here are a few ways to get started:
Contact local colleges and universities
Call professors and advisors, perhaps from a degree program that is relevant to the positions you typically recruit. Ask if you can serve as a resource to students seeking career advice, and then wait for the person on the other end of the line to give you an emphatic “heck yeah.” They’ll be ecstatic to receive free help from a recruiting professional who can offer their students some insider tips and insight. If you are an alum, even better.
Speak at networking events
This could be done either as a keynote speaker or part of a panel. Warning, this is more like Level 10 sharing, so do not dive in at this end. Something like this would likely require a lot more preparation and a bit of gumption. However, once you are comfortable enough, imagine the audience you will be reaching. It could be a room full of your industry peers and/or potential clients.
Post industry-related articles and links on social media
Okay, if being a keynote speaker is Level 10 sharing, social media posts are Level 0.5. It is truly one of the easiest things you can do to disseminate information you find interesting or useful. Plus, it generates views to your LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter profiles, all for a time investment of about 30 seconds.
Blog
(I guess I can check that one off my list now. Yay!) Blogs are easy to set up and you can link them to your social media profiles, thus driving even more traffic to your website. “But I’m not a writer,” I can hear you saying. It doesn’t matter. Find something you’re passionate about, start typing, and you may surprise yourself.
Check out charity organizations
Particularly, search for ones that work with adults and families in need of assistance. Most of these groups offer mental and emotional counseling, but are rarely equipped to offer career counseling. For example, my company was fortunate enough to partner with a local shelter to offer resume writing services and job search advice to victims of domestic violence. I hope we impacted them as much as they impacted us.