Job search networking can produce amazing results. It is a process of working with people in an ever-expanding process in order to identify job opportunities. In many cases, these are job opportunities that might not otherwise be accessible.
Networking doesn’t have to be painful or even look like networking. You can invite people to coffee, participate in activities with them, share common interests, and generally socialize. The difference is you are also inquiring about ideas to support your job search, identifying additional contacts and discovering potential job opportunities.
Have a few copies of your resume handy when you network with people, and don’t be afraid to ask for their input on how to enhance it or where you might send it. It never hurts to give them a business card with your personal contact information on it for easy reference.
The following list will give you some ideas for identifying and developing networking contacts.
Online Networking Via Social Networking Sites (Social Media)
Social networks are online communities of people who share information, common interests and activities. They enable people to use networks of online friends and group members to keep in touch, communicate and share information.
These web-based services provide a variety of ways for members to interact with each other, including online posts, blogs, forums, email, and instant messaging services. Within most sites, members can introduce themselves by designing a profile page that reflects their personality and interests.
Social networking sites (social media) have evolved to include people of all ages and backgrounds. There are hundreds of social networking sites and job candidates must be prepared to do a little research to see which ones provide the greatest potential from a networking and job search perspective.
Facebook (www.facebook.com), Twitter (www.twitter.com), Google+ (www.plus.google.com) and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) are among the most widely used social networking sites in the U.S. LinkedIn is especially popular with recruiters, but there are lots of other general and specialty sites worth exploring.
What to Look for in Social Networking Sites
Personal Profiles
Your personal profile is the heart and soul of your social media presence. It’s where you express who you are and what topics you are interested in exploring. The most popular sites make it easy to establish and refine your online profile. Your career interests and your desire to network with others in your profession or industry are key elements of your personal profile.
Search Capabilities
Clearly, you want the social media site to enable others to find you. But you also want the ability to easily search for members who have similar interests, and be able to locate career-related networking contacts. You should be able to search by a variety of factors including name, geographic location, school, email address, keywords, etc.
Security
You want to be able to be located by other members and locate members of interest to you; however you don’t want to be overwhelmed with unsolicited contacts. You also want to guard against the potential for identity theft or unauthorized access to personal information. Be sure to only post information that you feel comfortable divulging to a public audience.
Job Networking Potential
Recruiters are increasingly turning to social media as a viable way to find job candidates. As social media becomes increasingly important as a candidate sourcing tool, some sites will prove more effective than others. Social media sites with the greatest job networking potential should receive the bulk of your attention.
Informational Interviews
Informational interviewing is a great way to find out about the company, the work culture and job or career expectations. It entails talking with people currently working in the field in order to gain a better understanding of a profession, group, company, or industry. It can be an excellent way to expand your network.
Informational interviews should be approached with the same care and preparation as standard interviews. The difference is, in informational interviews, you guide the process. Present yourself briefly, be sincere about your interests and prepare questions that will be helpful to you in moving forward in your job search. A key goal is to make a positive impression that can lead to other opportunities.