5 Steps to Networking

This last month I had a client get with me about networking and what steps to take. As I talked with her for a few moments, I realized that many folks try to make the process much harder than it needs to be. Remember the old axiom, KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). Apply this same axiom to your job search networking methods.
Here are steps that you can take to make the process much easier:
1) Expand your contact base. Start with your own base of people that you know. Include your relatives, and yes your goofy uncle Harry. Your uncle Harry could have a friend at his lodge that could help you to your dream job. Get involved with volunteer organizations. Not only will you get your mind off of your lack of a job, but you will feel good about helping someone less fortunate than yourself.
2) Join Professional Organizations within the industry that you are interested. Go to a meeting and introduce yourself to the folks there. You never know who may know of someone looking for a person just like you, for a prize job. I have had a friend for over 25 years that I met while in college at a professional organization meeting. He introduced me to my future boss. I am glad to say that our friendship has lasted longer than the job did.
Do a search on the internet for organizations that involve the profession that you want to work with.
3) Use Social Networking like: Facebook, Linked-In and even Twitter to expand your network.
4) Conduct informational interviews. Interview folks that have a job like you are looking for. Do not ask them for a job! Consider asking the following questions:
- How did you get started in your career?
- What do you like most about your career?
- What do you dislike most about your career?
- What is the employment outlook for this career?
- Could you recommend someone else for me to talk with?
5) And here is my favorite. Get together with some of your out of work friends and start a calling ring. You each make a list of companies that you would be interested in working for. Exchange the list with your friends so they can see if they know someone at the company you listed. Have them call their associate and say that they have a friend that is looking for a (fill in the blank) position and wonder if they knew of any opening at their place of employment or knew of any openings.
And don't forget to do the same for your out of work friends. THis is really networking at its finest.
Good luck with you job search and don't forget to send me any questions that you may have about job searching.