How to Network your way to a new Job

(Photo: Tu TuWoN / flickr)

At the same time, your contacts and the contacts of your contacts help provide you with the knowledge and contacts you need for your job search.

To tune our brains into thinking in network contexts naturally is difficult, especially in a culture where we are brought up to stand up for ourselves. Learning to use our network is about developing the right mindset, where you get used to the giving and taking, establish contacts and believe it is okay to support each other.

Which personal traits must a person possess to be a “born networker”? That’s not possible to define precisely, but our personality obviously plays a role. We must possess courage – to say “Here I am, and I have something to offer …” or “I need your help to …”. Develop your personal networking style. Then use the following networking tips.

Networking your way to your goals

You should NOT apply directly in your network for jobs. You should use your network contacts and the contacts of your contacts to provide information and contacts that can help you find opportunities and contacts within your field and possibly also within specific companies of interest. Thus, use your network primarily to gather information and build  new contacts – not to (hard) sell you directly.

In 4 Steps to your Networking Strategy

The following 4 steps you can use, regardless of what your goals are.

1. Start by setting goals for what you want to achieve and thereby getting support from your network.
2. Break down your goals into concrete targets by asking yourself what you need in terms of knowledge, information and contacts to achieve your goals.
3. Analyze your network by creating an overview. Then think of who in your network can support you in reaching your targets in terms of answering your specific questions and providing you with specific contacts. Perhaps there is no one in your own inner network who has the wanted information, but some one may have contacts in their network who can support you.
4. Define a strategy in terms of who to contact with what issue and how to contact them. In this way you qualify your request, and you avoid spamming your network.

More over, it’s excellent to work concurrently on multiple targets, get all your targets and target areas documented for yourself. You never know what input you will get when you start communicating with your contacts, who knows what, who knows who, etc.

Many have objected to the systematization of networking because they think it’s exploiting others or stealing their time. However, most people like to share their knowledge and experience – it’s so to say perceived as acknowledging their knowledge. Moreover, you will get to give something on your way around the network. When people meet, exhange and development happen! Think of what you have and know, and what may be relevant to your contacts.

Expansion and Exposure

When we network we work more or less consciously on two tracks – expansion and exposure. We will expand our knowledge and our network. We expose ourselves and our knowledge. It is important to be aware of the two tracks, in order to be aware of your signals and your requests for your networking contacts. As a job hunter you need to reach out in your network and ask for information and knowledge that can bring you towards your goal for a new job, and in the same process you expose yourself to the people you are talking to.

Don’t overdo the exposure. If you meet a contact on a specific topic, don’t “attack” your contact when you meet with all your virtues, your resume, etc. Stick to the purpose of the meeting. Using the 4-step networking and keeping the 2 tracks in mind you can systematize your networking and thereby more effectively reach towards your goals.

Attending organized events may also play a role in your business networking and job search, since this can be an easy way to expand your business network quickly. These are popular events for business and social networking:  Lectures, workshops, conferences, Social, cultural, and sporting events, Private gatherings, Job clubs and fairs, Trade and professional association meetings in your industry, Service clubs.

Finally, once you’ve found the job, stay in contact and maintain your network. People with a strong and diverse network often reach their goals faster and more smoothly – than having to go all the way by themselves.