Create New Ways To Expand Your Network!
By Carol Stanton, CGS Career Counselor

What are the three most important ways to look for a job?  Network! Network Network!  Networking is a key skill for job search and for developing your professional life.  It's usually easy to begin to network with people you already know, but soon you may run out of leads. How do you find ways to expand your network? Here are a few suggestions:

Read The Pittsburgh Business Times. Each week it features articles about various people in the Pittsburgh community.  When you find a profile on someone who interests you, send a letter or email, asking to meet. PBT also lists local networking events.

Volunteer your services.   This is an especially good way to make contacts within a non-profit organization and gain valuable experience.  If you want to volunteer for a non-profit contact Student Volunteer Outreach at www.svo.pitt.edu   or Pittsburgh Cares at www.pittsburghcares.org .

Reconnect with your past.   Contact people you've known in the past but have lost contact with such as high school teachers, camp counselors, or other professionals who may be able to give you referrals to people in your field.

Attend networking meetings. Check out groups such as PAPEN (www.papen.us ), Among Friends, ProCareerNet (www.groups.yahoo.com/group/procareernet/ )and Priority Two. These groups of job seekers can give you valuable leads to networking contacts and provide emotional support during your job search.

The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. Their website lists about twenty-five networking groups for different populations: www.pittsburgh-region.org/public/cfm/career .
Find the group that you are most interested in and contact them.

Internet networking.   Look into one of the new internet networking websites on www.LinkedIn.com or www.Monster.com . 

Join professional organizations.   Identify ones in your field and go to a meeting. Request a newsletters or ask if students can join at a reduced rate.  Research student organizations on campus that focus on your field.

Meet Pitt grads.   Use the Mentor section on PantherTRACS: www.careers.pitt.edu .  Once you graduate, join the Pitt On-Line Community at www.alumni.pitt.edu .  This is a great way to find professionals in your field who work for organizations that you might be interested in.

Go to job fairs. Look at a job fair as a giant networking event. Talk to everyone you meet "“ recruiters, other job seekers, the guy serving your coffee. Follow through on leads.

Attend a community event.   Politics? Arts? Sports?  Whatever your interest, you can use any event as an opportunity to network and make useful contacts.

Do temporary work. If you're not working, find a temporary job in your field or one with lots of public contact. You never know who you might meet among your customers or co-workers.

Before going to a networking event, do some preparation.  Research the event or organization, take your business cards, dress appropriately, have your "mini" presentation about yourself prepared.  Go with a friendly, open attitude.  If it's a group that meets regularly, volunteer to help out in some way. Remember that networking is a two way street. You want to also contribute to the people you meet.

If you want to learn more about networking or need other kinds of career assistance, contact Carol Stanton  at 412 624-1689 or email cstanton@pitt.edu .