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| Successful Networking Strategies |
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If
you're conducting a job search or considering
a career transition, "networking" is an approach
that will multiply your employment opportunities.
Imagine having a team of experts helping you
conduct a job search campaign. That's what effective
networking can do for you. A successful networking
campaign takes time and fortitude, but the rewards
are far-reaching: the experience will help you
identify your transferable skills and enable
you to communicate them effectively with others.
The networking process is a reciprocal activity-a
give-and-take approach to finding meaningful
employment. Networking is accessing the knowledge
and wisdom of others, and with the right approach,
you'll find that most people will be happy to
share their expertise with you. The right approach
requires preparation, for as you cultivate your
networking skills, you'll be expected to share
your knowledge as well.
A Wealth of Information
The first steps to networking are self-assessment,
research, and organization. Careful assessment
of your experience, skills and aspirations will
help you to clarify the direction you want to
take and the type of work you're interested
in. Writing a prospectus that defines the skills
you want to use in a specific line of work will
help, but you'll need more information: What
about the trends in a particular industry? What
are the ways in which you can apply your experience
and skills to specific employment objectives?
Are your skills transferable? You need access
to information. To get in touch those who have
the answers, you must compile a database of
names: a listing of the people you know and
a listing of the people you wish to contact
for interviews. There are many sources from
which to gather names:
- Begin with people you
come into contact with everyday, i.e., friends,
family, professors, bosses, co-workers,
members of your church or synagogue, new
acquaintances, etc.
- Research career center
directories for company information, professional
associations, and people doing the type
of work you want to do.
- Search company home pages
on the Internet; you'll find names of professionals
who run the organizations. Communicate with
professionals in chat rooms, discussion
groups, through e-mail, and on bulletin
boards.
Compile a list of all
the people you know, and a list of your top
prospects. If you don't know the name of a prospect
who holds a key position that you wish to explore,
contact the department in which she/he works,
and ask for a name. Show your prospect list
to everybody you know, and ask them if they
know anyone on the list. If they don't know
anyone on the list, ask them if they know anyone
in a similar position. If one of your acquaintances
knows any of your prospects, ask if you can
use his or her name as a referral. Joining a
professional association is a great way to make
direct networking contact with knowledgeable
people. Contact all of your referrals for appointments,
regardless of their importance. All networking
will not be productive, but remember, everybody
you meet knows somebody important. What at first
seems like an unproductive networking experience
may end up producing a referral that leads to
the opportunity of a lifetime.
Map Your Strategy
Set daily and weekly goals for networking: making
phone calls, contacting referrals, interviewing
contacts, and writing approach letters and thank-you
notes. Letters are good ice-breakers, but they
are easily set aside. Calls are great if you
can get through the screening process. Keep
your requests for interviews low key: identify
who referred you, explain your career objective,
and request 20 to 30 minutes of time to discuss
the ideas that you've formulated. Whether you're
defining or broadening your career options,
emphasize that you are seeking ways in which
you can utilize your skills more effectively.
Agree to meet your contact at her or his convenience.
Network
Meetings
You are responsible for what takes place in
your meeting. Arrive prepared to talk briefly
about your skills and accomplishments. Your
objective is to learn how your ability can be
utilized most effectively. Ask your contact
how, in his or her opinion, your skills can
fit into a specific position or field. Brainstorm
with your contact, and try to make the meeting
as informal and fun as possible. Ask about trends
in the career you are exploring. Share your
knowledge and expertise as well. Ask for names
of others who could be helpful in your campaign,
and add them to your list. Write a thank-you
note the day after your meeting, pointing out
ways in which your contact has been helpful.
Stay in touch with your contacts; you may need
their advice in the future. Finally, keep your
network alive: when your networking endeavors
yield the job you've been seeking, thank your
contacts again. You may wish to enlist an exchange
of information with them in the future.
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