The Importance of Networking

By being well-networked, you are not only enabling yourself to tap into the hidden job market, but giving yourself a real advantage over other candidates. The key to successful networking is to market yourself using resources available to you and uncover job opportunities that may otherwise be hidden.
The strength of your network will be particularly useful during your job search and the key to making it work for you centres around how well you have fostered these relationships. Since you never know when you will need to make use of contacts, it makes sense to maintain a strong and active network, even if you don't need it immediately. Stay in touch with all your contacts – even if it's just a brief note or email to say hello and ask how they are.

Your network should include anyone who can assist you with a job search or career move. It can include past and present co-workers, bosses, colleagues from business associations and friends.
By following a few key guidelines anyone can develop their own highly successful career network.

Employ Existing Networks

One of the best resources available to a job seeker is the people they know already.  These people should know your qualifications and the type of role you are pursuing. Once you have a list of people you feel able to assist you, contact them informally by phone, letter or email. If you are particularly active in the job market, you might also want to send them a copy of your CV as a reference in case they want to forward it to other contacts.

Develop New Networks

There are three proven ways to begin extending your network and – although they work perfectly well on their own – when working in conjunction with each other, they generate a host of new opportunities.

Online

Some job sites offer worldwide networking opportunities where users can build their own professional profile and make it available to like-minded people, networkers at specific companies or people in a particular region. Other sites take this one step further by allowing members to create and join online groups to share jobs and job search tips. When networking online, make sure that you know what you want and be specific in your request. People on these sites are there for one thing only, so don’t be afraid to push your agenda.

Trade Shows

Trade shows offer numerous opportunities to network with representatives from a host of companies. Even if the trade show is not focused on the area you are interested in, they can still be of value. Representatives from the company will still enable you to tap into an organisation and could open the door to a more appropriate contact. Be sure that when you do attend, you have a set of prepared questions and an up to date CV – you never know when you might need it.

HR departments

You should already have compiled a list of companies that you would like to work for and so the next step is pretty simple. Firstly, compile a list of recruiters or HR professionals in the companies where you want to work. Once you have an up-to-date list, write to the person directly and ask them for information and advice about working for their company. Don’t forget that this is a networking opportunity, so try and get job leads, make contact with colleagues (if they allow it) and have your CV to hand.

Be a resource

If you expect to leverage people in your network, you have to be prepared for people to use you too. If people consider you to be a good resource, they will invariably return the favour. If you become aware of an opportunity that is not relevant to you, send it to the appropriate people in your network. This does not have to be limited to job opportunities, but could also include seminar invitations, drinks receptions etc. Don’t forget – these types of events are also great places to network.

Keep Track of Your Network

Make sure to keep track of your network. Whether you store contacts electronically or on paper, make sure you know who is who, where they work, and how to get in touch. If they move to another address or job, drop them a note to wish them well and find out what they are up to. Their new opportunity could lead to a new opportunity for you.

Networking really does work. According to research by CareerXroads, a referred candidate has a 35-1 chance of getting hired vs. 500-1 for typical candidates. It’s crucial you have a strong and viable network throughout your career and use it to your advantage.