Networking
What is a network?
A network is a group of professional contacts that you build and cultivate over time. They are professionals that you meet at college, within your community, within your company, at conferences, through companies that you may work with as part of your job, and other professional associations. A strong and expansive network gives you insight into industry and company trends, trending topics of interest, as well as insider information on job openings and movement within companies. If you have not started, the time to start is now since your network can be vital to your professional success.
Why is your network important?
Develop contacts in your professional field or field of interest
Share positions that are not posted
Connect you to the hiring manager
Access to subject matter experts who can provide project or topical advice
Some contacts may provide a mentorship role and help you grow professionally
Build relationships with others that share your interests
May help you polish your communication skills by encouraging you to talk with someone you were recently introduced to
Provides a forum to polish your “elevator pitch,” which is a short description of something delivered quickly and easily understood
How do you build your network?
Current students should investigate if your college offers a mentor program. That is a great way to get connected with at least one professional that will share their experiences in your professional field and will most likely be happy to share their network with you.
Career fairs at your college or in your job search community are also good ways to learn more about companies that might interest you, practice your “elevator pitch” with the company’s representative, and get comfortable asking for their contact information so that you send them a LinkedIn invite.
For young professionals and recent graduates, you could initiate an informational interview with a college Alumni that is working in your field of interest through LinkedIn or your college career/alumni group. Your initial communication would provide a brief introduction of who you are, that you are a recent graduate or preparing to graduate, and ask if they would be willing to speak with you about their role or job experience in your field or industry. This is good way to practice speaking with strangers as you prepare for more targeted conversations about particular job opportunities.
As you are introduced to other professionals at business meetings, video calls, in-person conferences, and through activities within your community involvement, you can ask for a business card or their contact information. You can then follow-up with a short note as part of a LinkedIn invitation to connect.
It is important to keep your network active and not fall back only when you are looking for a job. It is also important to invest time in others who may reach out to you. Give as much as you take, if not more.
Where do you build your network?
I encourage you to use LinkedIn which is the current industry standard for building out your professional network. LinkedIn is the social network for job seekers, professionals, and businesses. You can use LinkedIn to build your network, find business contacts when needed, connect with recruiters, and use your professional profile as an online resume.
LinkedIn has job search filters to help narrow down a job search. You can also create job search alerts to get notified when new positions open up in companies you’re targeting and connect directly with recruiters or employees in your network. And when appropriate, you can use your network to ask for a referral for companies you’re applying to and get your resume noticed.