NETWORKING: THE SECRET TO JOB SEARCH SUCCESS
Carol Stanton, CGS Career Counselor

If you asked most job seekers what they considered their least favorite job search activity, they will often say, "Networking!" Yet, this is one of the most powerful job search tools, especially in these days of a tough job market. Adult students, more so than traditional students, have an edge here, because they usually have access to a much larger network of people to begin with.

 Whether you're at work, school, church, or a community event, you are constantly meeting and connecting with people. Each of these people knows and meets with many other people, and so on. By tapping into this network, you have a good chance of making contact with someone who will know about an opportunity that you may be interested in. There are also ways of expanding your network and meeting more professionals in your field. The secret is to build and make use of your network in a focused way. Here are some suggestions:

Begin with a plan.  
Know what your goals and objectives are for your job search. Be clear about the kind of job you are looking for and the skills you have. Decide what kind of people, events, and organizations you want to connect with. Before you call someone, be clear in your mind about what you want to ask them.

Who do you already know?
Make a list of: family, friends, co-workers, neighbors,
professors, classmates, acquaintances, etc. Contact them and ask if they know anyone in the field that you are interested in. If they don't know anyone directly, maybe they can refer you to someone who does. 

Reach out.  
Search newspapers for listings of networking events or contact groups such as Papen (www.papen.us ) or Priority Two. The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance has a website that lists networking groups (www.pittsburghregion.org ). Volunteer to get involved in community organizations where you might meet new people.  Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to people you don't know. 

Go to professional meetings.  
Research your field and find out about local meetings of professional organizations. Sometimes they will allow prospective members to attend free of charge the first time. This is a great place to learn more about the field and meet other professionals. Speak with attendees and presenters. Get involved.

Ask for advice.  
People are often eager to help other people who come to them for advice.  Once you've found someone in the targeted field, ask for their advice about how to get into the field. If they have time, perhaps you can schedule an informational interview where you can discuss the field in more depth. 

Schedule an informational interview.  
This is a non-job-seeking interview in which you ask questions and obtain information about the field you are interested in. Prepare your questions ahead of time. Some questions you might ask are:  How did you get into this field? What is your typical day like? What are your biggest challenges?

Go to job fairs and other networking events.  
You never know who you're going to meet at a job fair or what this meeting will lead to. Be prepared with an "elevator speech" in which you talk about yourself and what you are looking for in a very succinct way. Use this opportunity to network with other job seekers and gain information about organizations in your field. (See article on 10 Tips to Job Fair Success)
 
Prepare for networking events.  
Know what your goals are for the event. Spend some time getting in the right frame of mind. Have business cards printed if you don't already have them. Wear something that helps you feel more confident. Think of some topics to use as "opener" with new contacts. Have your introduction polished.

Follow-up.  
If someone gives you the name of someone to contact, be sure to follow through with a phone call or email. Once you've talked with someone, follow up with a thank you note. Have a system where you keep track of names and contact information. It's easy to become disorganized about this, so start a system right away.

Nurture your network.  
Networking is about building relationships. Stay in touch through phone calls, cards or emails. Let them know about your progress.  See if you can do something for the people in your network. Share your resources and contacts or send articles of interest. Remember that networking is a two way street.

Be bold.  
Send letters to authors who write in your field or call someone who was profiled in a publication. You may be surprised at the positive response. They may become part of your growing network.

Read more about the techniques of networking.
See career resources websites such as www.about.com/careers/ or www.WetFeet.com . Read books about networking, such as The Networking Survival Guide by Diane Darling or The Secrets of Savvy Networking by Susan Roane.  Find these books and others at your local bookstore or career library.     

Spending time learning about networking is one of the most important ways to make progress with your job search. It takes practice and some courage, but the rewards more than make up for the challenges.