2D - Savannah Morning News, Thursday, March 26,1992 * * * *

Networking the Key to Staying Employed

By ELLEN JAMES MARTIN
Th« BoMmort Sun The principle of the cultivation process in net-
Even as the economy shows some working is very much like the farmer who culti-
signs of improvement, you never vates his crops. The farmer plants seeds and, over
know when your job could be lost. time, the majority of those seeds germinate and
Perhaps it is already gone. Now that
the U.S. unemployment rate is top- bear fruit/
ping the 7 percent mark, what ca- - Vincent Zirpoli, president of Mega Marketing
reer counselors call "positioning
yourself for change" takes on new
relevance. You need to prepare to ships with those you need most. 'Did I identify the needs of the or-
make a job transition whether the "The principle of the cultivation ganization?' and 'Did I tell how my
change is by force or choice. And, process in networking is very much skills could address those needs?' "
for most people, job change means like the farmer who cultivates his counsels Zirpoli of Mega Marketing.
networking. crops. The farmer plants seeds and, Send an immediate thank-you
' 'Eighty percent of all jobs are of- over time, the majority of those note after each interview.
fered to someone who knows some- seeds germinate and bear fruit," Not only are good manners cru-
one - the applicant didn't come in says Zirpoli of Mega Marketing. cial in the networking process, but
cold, "says Vincent Zirpoli, presi- If you are out of work, you must the desire to say thanks is a good ex-
dent of Mega Marketing, the build your resource network under cuse for a follow-up letter to the con-
Timonium, Md.-based management circumstances that are teas ideal tact you met face-to-face "It's all
consulting firm that assists both job than if you are still employed and part of the cultivation process,"
seekers and employers in the match- have more time for cultivation. But Zirpoli says.
making process which our society either way, you may be able to use
calls "hiring." these pointers offered by career spe- If people give you the names of
To some, "networking" is a diffi- cialists: others, it is also common courtesy to
cult concept. This is especially true Conduct a comprehensive job follow up with a note or phone call to
for introverts or people who have search involving preliminary "infor- tell them what resulted from the '•T^^m^mWjWm^^mrm'SBWf
worked in technical arenas that do mational interviews" first before contacts they provided you. People
not involve much outreach to the you see the decision makers who ac- who are eager to help should be re-
public.
Picture an engineer who has been
tually hire.
The idea here is to meet with a
warded and, at the minimum, should
be given the satisfaction of knowing
Fund-raiser
severed from a long-time job in wide array of contacts in various or- what happened as a consequence of City Lights Theater Company
which he was working principally ganizations who can give you the their suggestions, he says. presents two one-act plays,
with computers or other machinery. grounding, leads and referrals that Keep your name in front of an David Schaffer's 'After Oreos1
Tell him he must embark on a blitz can ultimately get you to the actual employer's face. and Thomas Kidd's 'Last Rites
of telephone calling to build a net- decision makers, says John A. Ste- of the E-Boys,' in a special
work of contacts, and he will be vens, a senior vice president at the Think about advertising as your
model, Zirpoli says. The people who fund-raising production that
mortified, says Ann Wolfe, a vice Baltimore office of Drake Beam continues Friday through Sun-
president at the Baltimore office of Morin Inc. produce'Heinz ketchup want you to
Drake Beam Morin, the outplace- When you approach people on the remember their trade name. That is day at the York Lane Theatre,
ment firm. outer rings of your circle, make it why they spend millions each year 15 VV. York Lane. Above, Lau-
"For these people, the telephone clear you are only seeking advice, for commercials to keep that name ra Filson, director, and her
is so hard to pick up that we call it not an actual job. in the public's consciousness. By the husband, Danny, read 'After
'the 10,000-pound telephone,' " Wolfe "Tell them you'd like 20 minutes same token, you want to keep your Oreos.' 'Last Rites of The E-
says. on their calendar for input into your name in front of the decision makers Boys' stars Mark Mathews,
However, networking is essential job search and that you don't expect who can hire you. If an opening oc- Danny Filson and Lamar
for most people sacking to return', to. them to givejyou a job." Stevens ad- curs, you will come readily to mind. Mitchell, right. Shows are at 8
a work force in which opportunities vises. Follow-up also shows persever- p.m. Admission is $5. To make
are scarce, says Charles R. White, Do not get elevated expectations ance, which is a widely admired reservations, call 234-9860.
president of White Ridgely Associ- for any one interview. trait in our society, Zirpoli points
ates and Success Management, a ca- "A problem people have is that out. To follow up and keep your
reer and outplacement firm based in they set their hopes too high and name before decision makers, peri- f
.

when they're not offered a job, they

Baltimore.
"Networking is better than not
working,'' White quips.
feel rejected and despondent,"
Zirpoli says.
odically place brief phone calls to
them or dispatch brief letters, hand-
written or typed.
Husband's Upset That Wife Reads
The networking you have heard Many good things can come out Keep good records on your net-
about all these years takes finesse
and perseverance, according to ca-
reer coaches. Ideally, you build your
of an interview in addition to a job.
You can get important information
about a company or industry for
working campaign.
Mega Marketing has developed
forms that help job-searchers keep
Hard-core Pornographic Books
contacts in good times and bad. Ide- which you would like to work. You their networking campaigns on DEAR ABBY: I am concerned find a lot to write about. I can toler-
ally, you do not wait until your ca- can get leads on jobs elsewhere. Or track. The forms are designed to log about my wife. I have found books ate my husband's faults. What I can-
reer hits a snag before you call you can get the names of others who interviews and follow-ups afMThelp that are very hard-core pornograph- not tolerate is his attitude about
friends or friends-of-friends in your could help you as you extend the net job-searchers to be sure they are ic in nature hidden in my home. The smoke alarms!
field. you've cast. meeting the goals they have set for books are novels, not picture-type I always can vegetables and fruit
When you encounter a career Give yourself a "curbstone cri- themselves. magazines. They describe women in the summer and make pickles,
problem - or decide to make a tique" after each interview. having sexual encounters with men ketchup and jelly. To do this, I have
switch - your contacts will be ripe Once the interview is over, it is A job search can be a long and te- who come to their door, and similar to boil a lot of water. When the
and ready to help you. You will al- time to ask yourself how you did rel- dious process. Indeed, some career fantasies. I came upon them acci- steam starts billowing into the room,
ready have developed the relation- ative to your goals. "Ask yourself, experts say you can expect to spend dentally. the smoke alarms go off.
a full month in the search process The books are very descriptive Abigail van Huren My husband knows nothing about
for every 110,000 of salary you hope and are causing me a great deal of cooking; he's never even fried an
Lose Weight and Save! to make at the new job. But setting
concrete and realistic daily goals
concern. I have not mentioned this
to my wife since she has hidden
from me? Why is she all of a sudden egg. Yet suddenly he becomes an ex-
reading them? What should I do pert and says I'm burning some-
Physicians
50% Off* WEIGHT LOSS
and then carefully logging your pro-
gress will assure you that you are
them from me. I did not go looking
for them, but found them under
about this? The deception has me thing. When I point out that I'm not
rather uneasy. We both read novels cooking anything but water, he says,
Centers- accomplishing something as you "her" side of the bed while I was with sexual activities as part of the "Smoke is coming from the greasy
move forward. painting the room during a week of story line, but not the entire body of burners." (They are NOT greasy!)
Call 354-4044 "You're controlling those things vacation. the book. - CONCERNED LOUISI- He says only smoke sets off smoke
which you can control, and that These books cannot be purchased ANA HUSBAND alarms, not steam.
gives you a sense of accomplish- in a regular bookstore, but can be DEAR CONCERNED HUS- Will you tell the old goat differ-
PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ment,' ' Zirpoli observes. purchased in an adult bookstore. We BAND: Since you and your wife ently? - STEAMED ININDIANA
Never say anything dishonest in have a very good sex life and do not have no problems other than the DEAR STEAMED: According to
Now Registering for'92-'93 the course of your job search. have any problems other than the "usual" after 25 years of marriage, the Los Angeles Fire Department,
(^Promoting Excellence Through Spiritual & Academic Instruction) ordinary problems of money and perhaps your wife has hidden the both insects and rising steam will
Naturally, you want to be upbeat
;
CONVENIENT TO THE SOUTHS1DE
and offer compliments where appro- raising two children for the past 25 books because she is not as comfort- set off a smoke detector. Some
11 111 RIO ROAD (Behind Savannah Mall)
Call 927-1117 for Information Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. priate. But if you say anything insin- years that we have been married. I able discussing sexual fantasies as smoke alarms are heat-sensitive. In
cere, there is a good chance the per- subscribe to Playboy magazine, but you had supposed. the interest of family harmony, tell
son you are meeting will sense it and she reads it and it is in our home Men are usually more stimulated your "old goat" to "butt out."
that could break the trust between without being hidden. by the visual - your Playboy maga-
you, says Zirpoli of Mega Market- I thought that we were open with zine is a good example. Women,
Dabbs, Hickman, Hill & Cannon ing. each other about issues, but this has
thrown me for a loop. She reads
however, are sometimes more By popular request, Abby shares
aroused by the written word. If you more of her favorite prize-winning,
Certified Public Accountants Use creative methods to get these books sometimes at night be- feel deceived, talk to her about what easy-to-prepare recipes. To order,
Announce the opening of their office at through or around secretaries to get fore bed, and as soon as I enter the yon have discovered. But I don't send a long, business-size, self-ad-
a decision maker to take your call. * * room, she covers them up and hides think the books are a threat to your dressed envelope, plus check or
6001 Chatham Center Drive, Suite 145 It is typically the secretary's role them. I do not know where else she marriage, any more than her want- money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Cana-
Savannah, Georgia 31405 to serve as a gatekeeper for the boss reads them, but while washing her ing to keep some of her fantasies to da) to: More Favorite Recipes by
and to screen calls in advance. Ca- car, I found some when I cleaned the herself, Dear Abby, P.O. Box 447, Mount
(912) 233-9004 reer experts say that by cultivating interior.
Why is she hiding these books
DEAR ABBY: If I wanted to Morris, IL 61054. (Postage is includ-
complain about my husband, I could ed.)
the secretary, you can sometimes
• Income Tax Preparation & Planning gain her help in getting through to • *
Accounting & Auditing 'Estate Planning • Computer System & Design the boss.
If the secretary will not let you
through, Zirpoli suggests that you
Color the Common Thread in Spring Accessories
try calling a few minutes after the Western motifs such as sheriffs for A Mid-Summer Night's Dream
secretary has left for the day. Fre- By DIANE SUSTENDAL
AP Special Features badges and cactus earrings by Har- stole. Ivy is printed across shirts
quently, if you call at 5:05 or 5:10 riette Bauknight for Kaso. Martha and scarves at Shady Character,
p.m., the executive will answer the NEW YORK - Inspired by gar- Sturdy and Maria Snyder are among and it is wrapped around the crowns
HOME OF phone personally, he says. dens, modern art, the West and wa- designers fashioning cuffs, cubes on broad-brimmed straws by Hat
QUALITY MEATS ter, accessory designers have come and discs into artistic, futuristic Attack and Monica Mahoney.
up with great ideas to change the forms. James Arpad sinks dazzling Dried flowers adorn many of the
3707 MONTGOMERY ST., SAV. way the good old basics look this
spring.
rhinestones into his designs while
Jose & Maria Berrera's hand-carved
more romantic hats, such as those
Modern MM! Cutting wHh OM ffciwy S*rvlc* from Darcy Creech. Silk flowers ac-
234-7981 Quantity AJgftt* ft«*«rv«d Transforming the simplest uni- lucite seashells are meant to adorn cent handbags by designers such as
form of a blouse and jacket with wrists, necks and ears. For true Elaine Armstrong and Jill 'Stuart.
BONEUESS skirt or trousers has never been eas- romantics, the resins are molded Flowers formed in acrylic enamel,
CHUCK ROAST BEEF STEW ier. Moving from workaday slick to into hearts and flowers which be- rhinestones and molded silver flour-
party time pretty to wildly West and come pendents, pins and earrings. ish on the jewelry scene. Enamel
$•179 foiktoric is easy with a toss of a hat,
a ton of beads, an armload of brace-
Western looks seem as at ease in
the city as in the wide open spaces.
flowers, reminiscent of the 1960s
turn up on oversized pins and ear-
lets and a scarf or two. Silver-tipped and beaded belts, bolos rings. Enamel also is used in hearts
FRYER From samplings at the recent and bracelets embedded with semi- on cuffs which mimic real jewelry
STICKS Spring '92 Accessorie Circuit show, precious or faux stones, and tooled by such famed designers as David
lucite and acrylic resin seem the leather bags are just the right touch- Webb and Vedura
materials of the moment for jewel- es for an urban cowgirl. Eric Bea- This year's down-to-the-sea num-
ry. They turn up in dear, frosted mon's amusing take on the West is a bers are less military - unless you
and bejeweted bangles and beads. soft suede bandana edged Native count all those anchors that dangle
Colors and treatments abound. American-style with beads. For cas- from_glow and belts - thaninpre-
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and icy pastels; nx*ber-of-peari and looks as if it's been around the cor- toaes come from snidery coral, aba-
gilt finishes; hictte set wifc rhine- ral for a white sj)d head on out. tone, cork and sand pebbles which
StQMS and BaaoVfMiDied Of IHOMfd H* greening movement goes ro- decorate everything from strings of
to infante semipitcious stones such mantic with hats, scarves, bags and beads to the beroa of scarves, fl*
rie* awl vtoes. Ivy sc«ms ubiqui- draped at the neck rather _
into ptos and earrings with smusag tout Kokto intertwines ivy on net dropped on the floor. T^ny doth
turns up as a strip***
fob and beast»B caps.
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