Job Networking

While many job seekers are under the impression that finding a job is an isolated activity, a good number of successful job seekers actually have a strong network of professional friends and colleagues that helped them land a job in their career field. Of course not every one of these job networking options will be able to provide a lifeline at the time you are seeking a job, but they may still be able to offer valuable tips, leads and support.

When you are considering incorporating networking with other professionals as part of your job search, keep in mind these important tips and ideas to help guide you through the process:

1. Brainstorming-The most important part of job networking is to spend some time brainstorming over what individuals can help you find a job that is right for you or give you tips on where to search further. Some potential examples include colleagues, a former boss, family members, friends, neighbors, alumni from a previous college or high school, community members, or members of a professional organization.

   Another portion of brainstorming for ideas to consider is the type of places you can go in order to find potential sources for job networking. A few ideas include professional organizations, business conferences, continuing education classes, college classes, Internet list-serves or forums, alumni functions, and even volunteer opportunities.



2. Clarity-You may feel like you will pressure someone by being straightforward and requesting specific information from them, but by beating around the bush, you may not actually get what you need. The clearer you are with a friend, colleague, or other professional about what you are looking for, the more likely you are to find job networking successful. Let them know the kind of job you are looking for, your qualifications and how you think they maybe able to help.


3. Keep Records-If you spend a great deal of time networking with others during your job search, it may be difficult to keep what everyone tells you straight. It is especially important to keep records of the conversations you have had with people, as well as the information they give you, whether it is a business card, an email address, or a telephone number. It would be terrible to mix up any of this information, or to lose it and the opportunity for a new job. It is also important to keep records so that you can thank those that have been helpful to you along the way.


4. Follow Up-Do not be shy about following through with individuals who told you that they would get you information regarding a potential job or contact information. Although you may not want to bother this person, keep in mind that people are busy and they may have simply forgotten the conversation you had. While finding a job is at the top of your priority list, it may not be at the top of theirs, so give them the benefit of the doubt and follow through with a lead you had.


5. Give Credit-If someone gives you a referral or a good lead on a job, be sure to thank them for helping you out. This should be the case whether or not something comes from the job lead because even if you were not successful in finding a job, this person did still go out of their way to help you out.

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