WHY NETWORKING?
As stated previously, most jobs are never advertised in the newspaper or listed with employment agencies. Research indicates that one of the most effective ways of finding out about jobs is by getting leads from people you know-that is,
Parents and parents' friends Children, spouse, and their friends Aunts, uncles, and cousins In-laws and former in-laws Friends and neighbors Professional colleagues Present and former coworkers
Former professors Clergy Social acquaintances People at your health club Local elected officials your doctor, lawyer,
Even if most of the people you meet through networking don't know of a job for you, talking to them about your job search can help you clarify your job goals and hone your interviewing skills.
The people in your network can also give you emotional support, offer feedback on your resume, and provide you with information about new careers or companies.
Anyone you know who might have information about a job opening, or who knows someone who might have a lead about a job opening, is in your network.
Tell everyone that you're interested in exploring new job opportunities. Give them a brief review of your background. Be specific about what you're after. For example, say, "Fm looking for a job as a structural engineer with a medium-sized firm," or "I'm a chemical engineer, and I'd like to work in Saudi Arabia for a while," rather than "I work in civil engineering," or "do you know of any jobs?"
Most people will be happy to help you if they can. If they don't know of any jobs at the moment, ask them to keep you in mind. Most important, ask them if they know two or three other people you can contact. Then contact those people, and so on.
Whenever you meet someone new, exchange business cards. Even if you're unemployed, have some cards printed;
It is not very costly. Be sure to include your telephone number and profession. For example:
Specializing in Hazardous Waste Operations, Emergency Planning, and Risk Assessment Let people know how much you appreciate their help by sending a thank-you note or by letting them know the results of the information they gave you. Offer to help them in return.
EXPANDING YOUR NETWORK
Become active in a professional or trade association. Their meetings or other events are good opportunities for you to network with people in your field.
Get involved with a civic, social, or religious organization. As you meet new people in the organizations, you can network with them and work on a worthwhile project at the same time.
Follow Up on Networking Leads
After your initial networking efforts and research, you will prob ably have a long list of new people to contact. The next step is to meet with them to introduce yourself and get more information or job leads. If you happen to casually encounter someone on your list, you might be able to set up a meeting for a later date. However, most meetings are arranged by phone or mail.
Networking by Phone
Most people you call will be happy to help you, but they may not have much time, so it's important to make your point directly and succinctly.
As was described in Chapter 5, "Conducting the Job Search," when contacting the employer by phone, write out a script ahead of time, but try to memorize rather than read it. Calling someone you don't know can be extremely stressful. If you are uncomfortable doing this, practice with a friend and get feedback on your presentation. When you're well prepared, these calls will be easier than you anticipate. You have nothing to lose by calling-if you don't make the call, you'll never find out if there was good information or a job lead at the other end. If you do call, you may be successful. At the very worst, you'll feel a bit uncomfortable. Each call you make will make the next call easier and will prepare you for the more daunting task of calling an employer to ask for a job interview.
Use the sample below as a guide for making a networking phone call.
"Hello, Mr. Wise, my name is Bill Wynn. Martha Pabon suggested I speak to you about a career change I'm considering.
I was a project manager with Alhed Chemical Company for seven years. Since their merger, I've been exploring other options in project management consulting.
I'd like to meet with you next week for about 20 to 30 minutes to get any advice you have to offer. Would Tuesday morning be convenient?"
Networking by Mail
If you have many people to contact or are seeking a Job in a distant city or overseas, developing a networking letter may be a good idea. The letter should be on your personal letterhead and include your telephone number. Like your phone calls, your letter should be brief and to the point. It is not a good idea to enclose your resume at this time as you are not applying for a specific job opening. As with your phone calls, your mailing should be targeted, based on your networking and research, to those people or companies who would be most likely to have the jobs or the information you seek.
Here is a sample of a networking letter written by someone who has not looked for a job in a long time and is seeking information about the employment outlook in his field. He has been referred by someone he has met through networking. A similar letter could also be sent without using a referral.
