Connect with YOU? Why?! March 8, 2012
Posted by robewanow in Job Search, Rants and Raves.Tags: First Impressions, How Not To Network, LinkedIn, Networking Faux Paux, Online Networking
7 comments
That’s the first question I ask myself when I receive the generic “I’d like to add you to my professional network” request from a fellow LinkedIn user.
I’m not saying I don’t want to connect with you but it sure would be nice if you would provide me with a little context as to how you know me or how you were referred to me. This provides me with a frame of reference for how we can benefit each other if we
connect.
You see I protect my network. I value the people I am connected with and I am thankful they have placed their trust in me by connecting with me. Therefore, I am careful with whom I connect because by doing this it brings my whole network one step closer to this person as well. If I don’t have a decent understanding of who you are or how you got to me I am most likely inclined to ignore your message. Remember it’s not about the size of your network but its depth.
So the next time you want to connect with me, or any other person for that matter take a little bit of time and let the person know how you got their name and why you would like to connect with them. In doing this, I am sure over time you will expand your network with quality contacts.
What do you think?
Until next week….
A Rant March 11, 2009
Posted by robewanow in Job Search, Rants and Raves.2 comments
I am officially at week 9 of my job search. Activity levels have picked up, I am meeting with an average of 8 people a week, a number I find is manageable as it allows me to maximize my face-to-face networking while avoiding burn out and also allowing time for “administrative” tasks and of course my family. I had a couple of weeks where the number of meetings was closer to 10 and found it too stressful and allowed little time for much else.
That is the good news, and for those of you who read this blog you know I am what I consider a positive person, especially during this trying time. However, I must use this opportunity to vent and get something off my chest.
Ready….here it goes….
If you are currently unemployed you are most likely familiar with COBRA benefits you may or may not be taking advantage of them depending on your situation. I am currently utilizing them because in my situation they are more affordable than some other options. Because my former employer is subsidizing part of my benefits I have to go through ADP instead of directly through the health care provider as a result this has become nothing short of a complete nightmare.
To sum it up my benefits have been correct for approximately 3 of the last 9 weeks. This has taken so much of my time , completely wasted it. I have had to call these folks each time I send a payment to
- Make sure they received the payment
- Make sure they processed the payment
- Make sure they applied the payment
- Make sure they notify my dental insurance provider
- Make sure they notify my health insurance provider
Yes this is true, I’ve done this at least 5 or 6 times already, most times its required a follow up call to go over parts of the list again. They are that inept.
When I called the other day they told me my subsidy was canceled. WHAT?!?! When I called my former employers benefits department they were at a loss, for some reason the subsidy was deleted from the ADP system. We had it right, they had it wrong. Par for the course with this group of amateurs.
Just when I thought this was fixed I called them yesterday and after spending 20 minutes on hold I found out that somehow in the middle of the night my premium amount due has changed and the subsidy is still in question. WHAT?!? For the past two months I had been paying a certain amount now all of a sudden its changed. I pulled out the original paperwork while still on the phone with the CSR read it to her added the numbers and told her that is what I have been paying – it is what THEY told me I should be paying. She did not believe me until she added the numbers herself to which she said “that’s strange”
Strange? I guess. How about completely incompetent. I do not know who ultimately is responsible for this string monumental screw ups but I can assure you if they worked for me they would be gone, flat out fired. I fail to understand how things can consistently be so messed up even after multiple calls from me and my former company, calls they log in a case management system!
Finally I asked to speak to a supervisor, I could not. Instead the service rep relayed the information back and forth between us. I was irate at this point. To her defense this CSR was the most helpful one I have spoken to, the others were clueless or unwilling to do more than absolutely necessary. One even told me these screw ups happen all the time to which I said “who ever is in charge should be shown the door, I have other things to worry about like finding a job to support my family. You guys have wasted so much of my time it is unforgivable.”
If any of you utilize ADP or if any of you will be due to the new stimulus program benefits for COBRA I urge you to keep a close eye on ADP and make sure they handle your information correctly.
Needless to say when my subsidy expires *for real* I plan to get as far away from this amateurish company as possible. Even if my wife’s benefits are slightly more expensive the extra money, though scarce at the moment will be well spent in knowing I do not need to babysit ADP.
Now I feel better.
Until next week….
