Networking

Want to Get Hired? Learn the Power of NETWORKING!

What is the biggest secret about the best way to find a job? It's NETWORKING, one of the best employment services available -- and it's FREE. It's as old as history, and if you use it well, you can find a much better job than you ever would using the want ads.

NETWORKING is making use of your personal contacts to get a new or better job. Most often, networks are informal -- they're "connections" with other people who can give you information or refer you to others who can. Everyone has some kind of connections and may not even be aware of it. Sometimes we might feel embarrassed to let people know that we're unemployed or trapped in a nowhere job, but do you really want to avoid a process which is the single best way to get yourself in front of hiring managers? And NETWORKING is a two-way street -- the person who helps you today may need your help tomorrow.

In a study conducted in 2001, 60% of study participants from around the country overwhelmingly cited NETWORKING as the most effective job source mechanism, followed by search firms at 7% and the Internet at 6%. Tom Silveri, the CEO of Drake Beam Morin said, "... we emphasize the importance of building and maintaining a network of relationships to tap the hidden opportunities not yet advertised, and also because when given the choice, managers prefer to hire someone they know - or to whom they were recommended. With average job tenure decreasing, individuals will likely experience several transitions in both job function and industry during their careers ... ." (www.dbm.com)

Are you spending most of your job search time looking in the newspaper and on the Internet? If so, you are only finding 6% (or less) of the jobs that are out there. According to Drake Beam Morin, if you don't network, you will miss out on 60% of jobs! That means your job search may take longer and the final result may be much less satisfying than if you had taken the leap and networked.

Here are some tips on how to do it well:

2. Don't be afraid to call people you haven't talked to in a long time. Most people will be flattered to hear from you. If they're not, what have you lost?

3. Talk to as many people as you possibly can. Make a list of people you know. You may be surprised at how many people are on that list when you're done. There is always someone out there who would love to give you a hand.

NETWORKING contacts can include:

• Personal (family and friends)
• Work (current and former co-workers, supervisors, colleagues, etc.)
• Education (professors, advisors, continuing education seminars, etc.)
• Professional Groups (trade associations, formal NETWORKING groups, breakfast clubs)
• Personal & Professional Services (physicians, attorneys, accountants, etc.)
• Multimedia (newsgroups, web sites, personal e-mail address list, authors, etc.)

4. Before you pick up the phone, be ready! Here are some tips for good telephone NETWORKING:

• Rehearse what you are going to say ahead of time.
• Be energetic and positive.
• Make sure the background is quiet.
• Stand up and smile while talking.
• Have pad of paper and pen handy to take notes.
• Disable call waiting.
• Remember the time difference if calling to a different time zone.
• Don't have an unprofessional message on your answering machine.
• Don't let a child answer your telephone.
• Speak clearly and slowly if leaving a message on voice mail. Give times when you will be available.

5. Focus your goals and requests, and be specific when you call people. Develop a 1-minute "commercial" that tells your contact:

• Who referred you to the caller.
• Who you are in terms of education, work situation, and roles.
• The highlights of your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments.
• Why you are NETWORKING (job leads, information about a career, etc.)

Always ask for another name to contact, and see if the person you called would be willing to look over your resume. Ask if the contact knows of any companies that might be hiring in your field. Be concrete and ask for tips, such as "What other courses do you think I might want to take if I want to go into website design?"

Most people get hired for two reasons -- they have the skills to do the job AND they have a good personality match with their boss and co-workers. NETWORKING over the telephone can be an efficient use of your time if you develop good relationships with people.

6. Follow up with people you have called. Keep the calls or meetings short -- 15 to 30 minutes -- out of respect for the person's time. Thank the contact for their time by sending a thank-you e-mail or note. When you call again, briefly recap part of the conversation you had. Periodic phone calls maintain and build relationships, but don't mistake being persistent with being pushy. Always have a specific reason for calling -- a question, or a comment about how some of the person's advice is helping you. If you are too shy to call, send a note every once in awhile. As your search progresses, weed out those people who aren't helping you so that your network will be stronger.

7. When you're out, always carry several copies of your resume with you. Also, consider getting business cards with brief information about yourself. You can list your name, address and contact information, your degrees, certifications, and field of expertise.

8. Be organized. Keep written or computerized records of all the people you have contacted in some kind of order so that you can find the record quickly if needed (such as, if the phone rings and it's a potential employer on the other line who wants to interview you!).

9. And as successful as NETWORKING is, don't forget to check the Internet, classified ads, trade magazines, recruiters, and make cold-calls to companies. Those ways still work, too!

 

written by: Mary Lupas, Job Coach
Career Services Center - Lakeland Community College

Updated 05/16/07