Networking 101

by Greg Kemist

gkemist@aspenrecruiting.com

"You will never know where (what) your ideal job will be unless you look for it."

"The resume gets you the interview, the interview gets you the job. Therefore, take a lot of interviews!"

"Most Hiring Managers would rather hire one of their friends...someone they know, or who has been recommended by a co-worker because they are a safe bet"

"Networking is the science of taking interviews"

Networking should be a way of life for us as part of our career development. It is a process that should be practiced regardless of whether we have a job or not. When we network with others, we continue to learn about markets, jobs, technologies, Companies and trends. The one thing a job seeker should never do is begin to network with others once they have lost their job, because this process takes time to develop a network of people who can learn from, and when people know you are out of a job, they will try to help you find a job...any job, and that may be the wrong job for you.

The more people you know who you are, and what you do, the more likely you are to connect with that ideal job. So, who should be in your network? The answer is everyone that can help you understand and further your career. Examples are:

1. Current and former co-workers.
2. Ex-bosses.
3. Family (uncles, aunts, cousins, distant relatives).
4. Former school mates, teachers.
5. Professional societies.
6. Church groups.
7. Recruiting companies (i.e., Recruiters).
8. Former clients, customers, vendors.
9. Chamber of commerce members.
10. Consultants.
11. High school buddies.
12. Fraternity brothers/sisters.
13. Friends of you parents.
14. Secretaries.
15. Neighbors.
16. Parents.

In order to make contacts in the network you have to pro-actively conduct informal interviews with people in your network. An informal interview can be as simple as a phone conversation with an ex-professor, or a formal sit-down discussion with a former boss. Some ways to set these up are listed below:

1. Offer to meet for breakfast or lunch.
2. Set an agenda. Lay out what you want to discuss.
3. Summarize your background and experience.
4. Foster dialog by asking questions.
5. Get feedback on your job search.
6. Follow-up calls after interview.
7. Thank you letter after interview, along with resume.

Keep track of people in your network, and stay in touch periodically to continue to foster conversation about changes in the markets you are seeking.