NETWORKING

There is no better way to shorten your job search than by using networking as one of your prime tools. If you've ever asked someone if they know of a good car mechanic, you've networked! You may not refer to it as networking, but that's what it is.

One of the biggest hurdles we have to help people over in our Outplacement Training is to get them to utilize networking. People fear networking because they feel they are meeting people under false pretenses and are wasting their time. What you are really doing when you network is asking for advice and information.

The best way to start networking is to interview with two or three people that you know very well. When you start with people you know, you can blow the interview without really hurting yourself What you gain is experience and confidence in the networking process so that when you begin meeting with people you don't know very well, you will be more at ease with the process and can get the leads and advice you are seeking.

On a local level, the only way to network is through face-to-face interviews. In our program, we require individuals to have a minimum of six (6) interviews per week. That's six face-to-face interviews, not telephone interviews.

There are three (3) main objectives in the networking interview:

1. Let the individual with whom you are meeting know what your objectives are; i.e., what position or title you are seeking;

2. Have the interviewer read your resume in front of you so you can get feedback and they get to know you technically and professionally; and

3. Come out of the meeting with two or three names of people to whom they can refer you.

Sit down and make a list of everyone you know (and I mean everyone!) It could be your next-door-neighbor or you past employer or your dentist - just keep writing down names until you can't think of anyone else. From this list, pick two or three people that you know very well and contact them for a face-to-face meeting. When you contact them, let them know up front that you are not contacting them to see if they know of any job openings, but rather you are meeting with them to get their input for your job campaign and resume.

If you want to shorten your job search, start networking! Over 60% of all jobs are filled using this method.