Making Your Garden Thrive

I love eating produce picked from my garden or gazing out the kitchen window to appreciate the sunflowers smiling back at me from across the yard. (And I’m delighted to have instilled a similar appreciation in my children!) This wouldn’t be possible without the work I put in all spring and summer to make sure my plants have what they need to grow.

Having a thriving network supporting your job search is not a “set it and forget it” endeavor, even in the case of perennials who may require less work. These contacts all require some level of contact from you, no matter what. But you also only have so much energy and time to put into this work, so how do you prioritize what to do?

Different Plants, Different Needs

Here are some categories of “plants” in your garden, and how to think about supporting each of them.

Hardy Plants

These are the plants that need the least attention. In my case, this is the rosemary plant that has survived 2 winters in my garden and continues to provide delicious leaves for my favorite potato dishes each year. I don’t go out of my way to add nutrients to the soil or water it. But it does benefit when I water the whole garden with the sprinkler on hot days. So, what does it mean to turn on the sprinkler for 20 minutes to give the whole garden a refreshing shower?

• Make an announcement to a mass audience updating them on what’s happening in your life. Social media can serve as a great way of doing this via “looking for my next opportunity” posts (and it’s ok to post this more than once). Give enough details so that people can recognize when they see/hear something that you’d be a good fit for. Are you looking in a specific location or for remote positions? Do you want something full-time, part-time or freelance? Do you have a particular industry you’re looking in or are you motivated to find a mission-driven organization?

• For more specific guidance, check out Emily Worden post talking about her free Open to Work Info Sheet Template and how she suggested announcing this on LinkedIn. (My one note is I don’t recommend including your email address in a post like this unless you want to have a bunch of people sending you spam. Limit the inevitable spam to DMs in the LinkedIn platform).

Average Plants

These plants are going to need interaction on a more regular basis. Check out my Network, Network, Network newsletter for suggestions on how to do this. Remember to look for opportunities to interact virtually AND offline, when possible. They don’t have to be 1-hour phone calls.

• It’s a text message sharing a resource you saw that they might find interesting.

• It’s grabbing a coffee or a glass of wine/beer to reconnect.

• It’s attending an in-person or virtual conference or meeting, saying hello and asking how they’re doing (they’ll almost inevitably reciprocate and ask how you’re doing).

• I’ve listed a number of ways to remind people of your presence on LinkedIn in POKE – I’m Still Here!  

Critical/Sensitive Plants

These are the plants who are most likely to help you achieve your goals. These are the people who can best speak to your skills and experience or who are most connected in the industries/communities where you want to work.

• Send them an email or a message letting them know you’re searching and if there is something specific you hope they can do to support you, ask. Again, it’s all about specifics. Asking them to “help you find job opportunities” is not as helpful as asking them to “recommend people to follow on LinkedIn” or “for suggestions for workshops/conference or certifications they think might help your search.” Your ask shouldn’t take too much time for them to complete (I aim for ideally less than 15 minutes of their time).

• Brainstorm what might help their careers and how you can be of service to them. For some, it might be getting tagged on social media. Others might want you to buy their book or write a positive review of it. An introduction to a potential client or collaborator might be of value to another. Different plants in a garden need different types of nutrients, so make it specific to that individual. For people who struggle with asking for help, finding a way to help someone before you ask them for assistance can make it feel much better.

• Write a recommendation for former colleagues or mentors on LinkedIn and they’ll likely reciprocate. You can also send a LinkedIn recommendation request to them via the platform, but make sure to include specific things you’re hoping they’ll mention. Make it as easy as possible for them to write.

The holidays can be a slower time for the job search, so if you can and want something to do, spend time watering and providing nutrients to your garden so when people return to the office next week, you’re already on a roll.

And I’ve got 2 other ways to kick start 2025 with a bang! My workshop Using LinkedIn to be a Powerhouse Networker is January 7 and the LinkedIn Sprint for Job Seekers kicks off 3 days later. If you register for the workshop, you can join the sprint for free. And if you register before January 1^st, you can write off the expense as part of your 2024 taxes! In the New Year, my one-on-one coaching prices will also be rising, so sign up now to lock in the current rate and schedule the sessions for whenever works best for you in the coming months.

Recent LinkedIn Job Posts

All posts are from people I follow on LinkedIn and include multiple jobs.

• Rebecca Aguilar (journalism jobs)

Hi! I’m Sara Kobilka, owner of Renaissance Woman Consulting.

I am a Renaissance Woman (what’s THAT? Good question! Here’s my answer). My wide-ranging background includes time as a TV meteorologist/reporter, non-profit leader, higher education program coordinator, curriculum designer, and now, business owner. During each leg of this journey, I gained new skills that I was able take with me in my next step. Now, I work remotely with clients to help them confidently tell their story and navigate the transition to the next leg of their career journey.

Take the Next Step

• Follow me on LinkedIn where I actively cross-pollinate impactful ideas across industries and disciplines (and regularly share job opportunities I come across)

• Check out my one-on-one career coaching program or join a cohort of job seekers for small group coaching

• Sign up to be the first to know when I offer my workshops: Using LinkedIn to be a Powerhouse Networker and How TV News Pros Can Land a Remote Job.

• Participate in one of my LinkedIn Sprints

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