How to Network

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How to Network

• Presented by
• Danny Bowden
• Jeff Jennings
• Shaun Garrison
• Andrew Rogers

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What is Networking?

• Networking is the process of contacting and
  developing relationships with individuals who can
  help you in your job search by either suggesting
  job leads and/or giving you referrals to other
  people who know of job openings

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FACT

• Networking is one of the most effective methods
  of gathering information about job openings and
  gaining access to employers
• Over 80 of jobs are never advertised in the
  newspaper or listed on any service. Most jobs are
  filled before they need to be advertised or
  listed with an employment agency. These job
  openings are referred to as the hidden job
  market.
• Networking is the only way you will gain
  information about these job openings.

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The Advantages of Networking

• Discover job openings before they are advertised
• Face less competition for jobs
• Be more familiar to the hiring authority
• Have a foot-in-the-door for job openings

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Types of Networks

• Your network includes all of your connections and
  relationships with people.
• An individuals complete network generally
  consists of four major groups
• Personal
• Professional
• Organizational
• Opportunistic/Other

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Group 1

• Personal Network individuals who do not
  encounter you in your employment capacity.

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Group 2

• Professional Network individuals who do
  encounter you at work and are able to comment on
  how you do your work.

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Group 3

• Organizational Network overlaps with
  professional network organizational
  affiliations, community groups, foundations,
  professional groups, etc.

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Group 4

• Opportunistic/Other Network chances connections,
  unexpected coincidences, accidental conversations
  with strangers.

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How to begin networking

• Networking begins by forming relationships with
  members of your community and becoming familiar
  with them
• Communicate to people what your skills and
  interests are, even if you are not in the process
  of job hunting
• Value your friends, neighbors and colleagues
• When the time comes, they will be familiar with
  you and willing to help

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Skills Assessment

• Before you start networking for the specific
• purpose of finding job leads, you need to
  identify
• What your skills and interests are
• The type of work you want
• The kind of place where youd want to work
• You should be able to describe yourself and what
  youre about with those you make contact with.

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Do your homework

• To be effective at networking you need to know
• what you are looking for.
• Be specific when you ask about job leads.
  Contacts cannot help you if you are not clear
  about what you want.
• And remember
• DO NOT EXPECT your networking contacts to make
  career decisions for you.

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Networking Basics

• Be polite and friendly
• Contact people at their convenience
• Do NOT ask your networking contacts to give you a
  job. Instead, ask if they know of any available
  openings for the type of job you are seeking
• Listen be interested in what your contacts have
  to say

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Contact List

• Make a list of people to contact. Start with the
  people you know, including
• Relatives
• Friends
• Work colleagues
• Neighbors
• Members of social or sports group
• Professional associates

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Get Organized

• Your network of contacts will quickly expand as
  you contact people and obtain referrals
• Be prepared to take notes
• Get names and phone numbers of all referrals
• Contact people systematically it is often easier
  to begin with people you know well

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Questions To Ask

• Decide on relevant questions ahead of time.
  Remember that your goal is to gather info about
  job leads and referrals.
• Do you know of any openings for a person with me
  skills? (Identify your skills)
• Do you know of anyone else I might contact about
  openings?
• May I use your name and information as a contact
  reference?

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Helpful Hints

• Be brief and to the point when contacting people
  on your networking list
• Tell the person that you are in the process of
  looking for a job or state your goal
• Try to keep the conversation directed toward
  your goals
• Be sure to thank the person and show your
  appreciation of their help

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Review

• Make a list of networking contacts
• Prepare yourself by identifying skills and
  interests
• Get organized and be prepared to take notes
• Contact each person on your networking list
• Ask for info about job openings in your field and
  referrals to other contacts
• Send resumes to appropriate contacts
• Remind people frequently that your are job hunting

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• Questions and Comments?

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• Thank you for your time and attention