By Maria Hanson, LiveCareer
Titillating as it can be, gossip is something most people realize they should avoid,
especially at work. The No. 1 workplace peeve in a recent survey: Gossip.
But there is an upside to gossip. In a large survey, more than half of the respondents
felt gossip was useful to job hunting.
Gossip can also help you identify new opportunities within your own workplace. And
even the most casual office chit-chat can give you much needed insight into your
work, your company and even your own job
security.
Follow these tips to gossip to your career advantage:
1) Rethink your idea of gossip. Work gossip isn’t just about who’s
dating whom in the office. Any piece of information about a company or industry
can be used to your advantage. Reading journals and websites specific to your industry
may give you useful information about which employers are growing their workforce.
Or hearing a rumor that free snacks in the break-room are a disappearing perk can
be a heads up that your organization is doing some belt tightening.
2) Don't automatically shun all gossip. People often hear important
work-related items first through the office grapevine. By ignoring all gossip, you
could be isolating yourself. Attend seminars, parties and other gatherings that
provide a chance for
networking. Be receptive, listen and ask probing questions. But don’t participate
in talking badly about anyone
3) Filter the gossip. If you just listen, and tune out the nasty
stuff, you won’t get a rep as a gossip monger. But you’ll be on the right channel
if there’s news that could help your career. Open your ears and extract the opportunity-rich
tidbits. For example, you may hear about something as seemingly insignificant as
a hiring manager’s love of dogs. If you’re a dog lover, this could be just the gem
you need to make a connection with the person who makes hiring decisions.
4) Put the info to work. Take the information you’ve gathered and use it to
get to the right people. Email the hiring manager of a company that just won a big
contract—and send your resume highlighting your relevant experience.
Use our Resume Builder to
customize your resume.
5) Befriend a connector. Share your gossip with a connector. A
connector is someone who seems to know everyone and effortlessly disseminates news.
Likewise, if you need to do damage control, there’s no one better to approach.
6) Be your own gossip. If you’ve had a success you want known –
something that could get you noticed in high places – get the word out there yourself.
Not sure how to toot your own horn? Appropriate bragging has its place in the workplace.
For example, at a staff meeting, you could mention a successful group project that
you spearheaded. This can get you and your team the favorable attention you earned.
Gossip doesn't have to involve backstabbing or spreading hurtful rumors. Useful
gossip is about connecting with others in a positive way. Knowing your interests
and using this knowledge to make connections with others can help your
career.
Take a Free Career Test to identify your interests and strengths and find out what
kind of career opportunities best suit you.