How can you effectively network and build lasting connections in localization? Dive in with tips from our expert hiring managers – Beat, Camila, Ilan, Olga, Senem, and Vera. This video showcases strategic networking techniques, tailor-made for the localization world.
Continue following our series for more insights and practical advice from our panel, spanning both the buyer and vendor sides of the industry.
Senem Konuklu
Yeah, networking is a very, very good idea. So in this can be a powerful tool for building relationships and advancing in the carrier. And also, you can learn more about the job opportunities and the companies and develop your skills, learn from others and gain new perspectives. So it’s not maybe a must have, you can still be successful in your job interviews, but it helps it’s a powerful tool.
Ilan Bloch
I don’t believe there is an unfair advantage. I don’t believe in recruitment, you want the best candidate. So best candidate is a composition of the best talent and skills and experience and what they’ve learned and what they can bring to the company, how what type of assets they can be. But knowing to put all that together and connect. And that’s also part of it. So if you’re, I don’t want to say smart enough. But I’ll say if you’re smart enough to reach out and make the connection, it’s something that you’re bringing on the table. So you’re capable of talking and reaching out and communicating and connecting, it could be important for that position that I have in mind for you. So it’s not an unfair advantage, am I going to give out all the secrets of what I’m after, in my interview process, if you’re asking me, I’m interviewing you next week, and I would like to know what’s important? Probably not. But you know, we’ll be open to a certain degree, but definitely the personal, the human connection is important. And if it can play in your favor, use it.
Camila Pedraza
This is a tricky one. Because a lot of people have different preferences. And some people feel like it’s personally invasive for you to try to connect, and some people appreciate it. So unfortunately, it will highly depend on the company that you are applying to, if you know that this is more of an open company, no that type of brand that is young, I think that this is going to be more appreciated. And just don’t overdo it. If you manage to get that LinkedIn connection, that HR connection, you know, like whether with the manager or with the HR person, don’t like overload them with information, be very mindful of what it is that you want to do. Because me having you on LinkedIn is not going to increase the chances that you get hired, right? What’s going to increase the chances that you get hired as if I see the way that you communicate and behave on LinkedIn is an appropriate way that I would want to see you representing my company, if I see you like, you know, all of your comments and interactions are weird, uncomfortable, insulting, right? So be careful also, when you’re actually connecting with people, because they can see a lot more of you than just what you put on your resume like that sort of polished presentation,
Vera Richards
I can tell you that I have had I can do this is while back, not at akorbi, who came to an interview and said, So what do you guys do? And and I was like, okay, right out of the gate, you just ruined your chances. Because you didn’t even bother to go on a website to look up the company and kind of understand what it is this company does. So connecting with people from the potential employer is always good. Good idea. Not always will they Bri accept your invitation, but But it’s certainly a good idea. Because then I see oh, this person has been doing some research and been wondering who we are how we operate? Do I know anyone in their network? Could I double check if this is a good place to work? So yeah, I’d say it’s certainly not going to score you any bad points. If you do that.
Olga Gulla-Kowalik
You can definitely connect or try to connect with the hiring manager on for example, LinkedIn. I know, some of them don’t reply. Some of them don’t accept such invitations to connect, but that’s also fine. I think my main advice here is that networking can feel like you know, it’s difficult and you don’t really know where to begin. And I think that’s understandable and natural. And that’s the case for probably everyone. I think creating are refreshing your LinkedIn profile is always a good place to start. So I think you might want to include some relevant experience some skills information there. You can also join some groups or follow some interesting profiles and just see what happens there. I think there are so many job adverts there as well. So I think you’re probably don’t want to miss that in case you are looking for a job here. itself. And I think if that’s as far as your your networking goes, I would say, that’s fine. Though, of course, if you feel like interacting with others, if you feel like publishing a post by yourself or commenting on the content, you’ll see, you can of course do that, I would just recommend you don’t put yourself under too much pressure, especially when you start with networking. Because like I said, it can feel tricky. And if you just prefer to create a profile, and use it to keep yourself up to date with the industry news and job adverts, I think that’s just enough.
Senem Konuklu
And should I try to connect before a job application, I think on a personal level, what I would suggest, so I would definitely go through the recruiters LinkedIn page, or the hiring managers LinkedIn page. So let’s try to learn more about them. And maybe I can relate to something in the interview. And it is the same with the company page, and the people who work in the organization. And if I have like a question before the interview, it can be a good way to interact with the recruiter and the hiring manager as well. So it will set the tone in a professional manner. So it can be a good point to engage with the recruiter and the hiring manager. But maybe. So after doing all this, so in the interview, when you finalize it, you can ask the recruiter or the hiring manager, if you can connect with them on LinkedIn, if they’re open to this.
Beat Stauber
For this is me personally, if I know somebody applied for a job, unless they’re already in my in LinkedIn, and specifically, if they’re already in my circle, I will probably wait to add them except them if they’re in an interview pool. Right? If that’s applied, I tend to I tend to do that. But I don’t think it’s really a problem. But what I do is that if I’ve had people contact me directly on LinkedIn messaging, and basically asked for a favor, so to speak, or a good word on something they applied to in the company, and I use this chat to, you know, politely let them know that I can’t really do that, because I don’t really know the qualifications. And I don’t want to, you know, affect the screening process. So it’s different if I refer somebody, right, if I refer somebody to the company, because I have knowledge of their previous work, because they worked with me, I think that’s valuable information, you know, firsthand information. But if I haven’t worked with them, I certainly wouldn’t intervene, I would just tell them, you know, just apply and let the process take take its course. However, networking in general can be very, very helpful. That comes from a person me who’s not really a networker so much, I’m a little more introverted, so I don’t do a lot of that. But I know that some people are really good at that. They’re very social, they’re really good at, you know, going to conferences and talking to people and give you huge opportunities. So yeah, I would encourage that if that’s something you enjoy, I would say absolutely. Go for it.
Camila Pedraza
I think that it’s more important to network with other professionals in the field, because they’re the ones who when they see something that might match up with your experience or your language combination. They’re the ones where you’re going to be saying, Oh, I know someone who can maybe do this. So attending events, you know, keeping in touch with other people in the field, reaching out offering your services, you know, again, not in a very salesy way but more like hey, I’m around I know how to do this. I can help really helps get your foot in the door sometimes or at least makes you aware of available opportunities. But yes, be careful when you do reach out you people tend to overdo it.
