Networking Skills

Probably the single most important technique for finding a job.

Its estimated that over 80% of jobs are filled through personal networking and are NEVER ADVERTISED.

Networking is not new. Its been around since the dawn of time.

What's going on in your area? View Professional Associations and Networking Events.

• Informal Networking: Talking to people you know --- friends, relatives, business acquaintances --- to make them aware that you are in the job market.

• Formal Networking: the systematic pursuit of new contacts and information.

• Common Networking Concerns:
  * Im embarrassed to admit that Im looking for work.
  * I feel that it would be like begging for a job.
  * I dont want people to think Im taking advantage of them.
  
  Looking for work does not carry the stigma that it did in the past. The average person will change jobs every five years. Good networking is a mutually beneficial relationship.

• On average, it may take 10 - 15 contacts to generate one formal interview. 5 - 10 formal interviews to generate one solid offer. 5 offers to uncover a desired position. You may have to talk to a minimum of 250 people before you get the job you want!

Networking Campaign:

1. People you know well such as family and friends, neighbors, classmates and professors, co-workers, and church or military associates.
2. People you see occasionally such as social acquaintances and business contacts.
3. Referrals from your other networking contacts such as networking organizations, support groups and community service organizations, chambers of commerce, associations, and college alumni groups.
5. Cold-calling people you do not know or to whom you have not been referred such as professional or trade magazines, yellow pages, and corporate directories.
6. People you meet on planes, riding the bus, etc. (you never know!)

Networking Strategies:

1. Initiate contacts for the sole purpose of networking.
2. Develop a networking list. Add names of people as you meet them or are referred to them.
3. Set networking goals. Write down how many contacts you plan to make each week.
4. Come to the meeting prepared with an agenda.
5. Take good notes. This is as much an opportunity to learn about your field, as it is to develop job leads.
6. Always ask if the person knows of anyone else you should meet. Ask if you can use their name as a referral.
7. Maintain records of the outcome of each contact.
8. Whenever possible, meet in person. If that is not possible, write an e-mail explaining your interests and background (brief and professional). Remember to attach your resume.
9. Plan your follow-up and write it down on a calendar.
10. Send a thank you letter after the meeting.

ExecuNet 2003 Survey Results show the main sources of interviews for executives in transition include: 41% networking, 27% responding to internet job postings, 11% sending blind resumes to companies, 10% resume submission from others who networked to the executive, 6% having resume included in online executive database, and 5% other.

Get The Most Out of a Networking Meeting:

To get the most out of a networking meeting, conference, trade show or any gathering of business peers, you've got to stand out and be remembered. Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon, nationally known experts on business networking, recommend "10 Ways to Stand Out in a Crowd" to help you become more visible and be remembered:
1. Act like a host, not a guest. You are president of your own network, even when you are attending an organization's event! Take responsibility for the success of the meeting. Greet newcomers, even if you aren't yet an old-hand yourself. Make others comfortable. Be helpful.
2. Showcase your capabilities. Take on only those roles you can and will do well. If you do a great job, people will assume that you are great at your profession. Conversely, if you promise to do something, but don't come through, people will assume that you are not competent. That's the All or Nothing Principle: If you do one thing well, people will assume you do everything well. If you do one thing poorly, people will assume you do nothing well.
3. Show off your wares or your service. Provide a demonstration or a sample. Contribute door prizes. Do a display.
4. Show up. Get there early and stay late. Be there and be present in the moment. Leave all the thoughts about the phone calls you have to return back at the office. Pay attention to the here and now.
5. Listen carefully with a bias toward action. What do people need that you can offer? Always be ready to give information, resources or help to others.
6. Help others connect. Introduce people to each other and build your reputation as an expert networker.
7. Tell success stories. What picture do you want to pop up in people's minds when they hear your name? They will remember what you last told them. Have something important to tell when they ask you, "What's new?"
8. Talk to and sit with people you don't know! View every chance meeting as an appointment. By chance, you sit next to Anne. She later introduces you to her boss. He invites you to speak at a conference. An attendee likes your approach and hires you to design a training program. That's now networking can work, if you get out of your comfort zone and meet someone new.
9. Find a reason to exchange business cards. Jot a note on the back of the card so you can remember what you intend to do to further your relationship with that person.
10. Follow up quickly. After the meeting send an e-mail or note. Provide the information you promised to get to your contact. All of your efforts will be for naught if you don't follow up quickly.

Need help with your presentation / communication skills? Join Toastmasters International! They provide opportunities to practice your skills and get immediate feedback in a supportive group setting. For more information, visit http://www.toastmasters.org/index.htm.

Tools for Networking at Support Groups:

1. Prepare a brief opening statement to introduce yourself.
2. Know the kind of position you would like to get. Have some job titles in mind.
3. Create a list of specific companies and industries in which you have an interest.
4. Come prepared to join in and help others.
5. Have your business cards and resumes available.
6. Mix and mingle --- try to meet everyone in the room.
7. Dress in a casual but professional manner.

Information Interviews:

1. Find the hiring authority in your department of interest and contact that person directly. You can find them through the web site, or, if that doesnt work, call the operator and ask the name of the head of the department.
2. Talk to the person about the industry and the position you are interested in.
3. Try to gain feedback regarding that persons perception of you and how well you would fit into the field. Ask them to briefly critique your resume.

View a list of information interview questions.

View our Networking Skills Workshop

Toastmasters

Uncomfortable speaking to strangers? Take care of that problem and go one step above it to public speaking with Toastmasters. UD has its chapter meetings every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Plano Campus. Please contact udtoastmasters@hotmail.com for more information.