Q: I’m looking for a new job because I was recently laid off. Everyone has told me I need to network but I am panic stricken about doing the wrong thing because I’ve never networked before. What are the rules and guidelines for good networking?
A: Think of networking as building your community and as an opportunity to develop professional relationships. The number one rule is not to ask for a job when you network. This puts your contact on the defensive and can make for a very uncomfortable conversation.
The key is to ask for information from your contacts and be prepared to talk about what you are looking for when it comes up in the conversation. Even in a thriving job market, 90% of jobs are filled by referrals because employers hire who they know and trust. Building and stewarding your network will make you visible to people who may be able to recommend you for a position at some point in time.
Here are some basic rules to networking:
- Do your research and ask relevant questions of the people with whom you connect. Seek out people in a field or organization that interests you and do your due diligence to learn something about them before you meet. Start with warm leads and ask for referrals.
- For your initial contact try calling instead of emailing and be prepared to leave a brief and articulate voice mail with your contact info and the reason for your call.
- Don’t stalk your contacts, some people will not respond due to lack of time or interest. Move on if they don’t reply to your first 2-3 attempts and don’t take it personally. There are other people out there who will be helpful – find them.
- Steward the relationships you build and be sure to keep in touch and thank them for sharing their time and expertise.
- When you do land a job, be sure to tell the people who have helped you along the way. Offer to be of assistance if they need information down the road. Willingness to pay-it-forward is a great quality in a networker.
Networking isn’t just for job seekers. You can network to find information about a variety of things such as a great restaurant, feedback on a childcare provider or insight about a neighborhood where you are contemplating a home purchase, for example. Build your community and you will find a wealth of information at your disposal.
