Networking

Job Seeker Networking

How to Make the Right Friends Through Networking

1) Do a Personal Network Inventory.

68 % of you are going to find your next job through networking. 15 % will use a search firm. 9% of you are going to find your future job through newspaper ads while 8% of you will be through direct mailing. So you’ll need to do a personal network inventory. It has been estimated that if you were to pass away today, your passing would impact 250 lives. Call these people now. They obviously care about you. This is your personal network inventory group.

2) Ask For Introduction.

Now ask your group for introductions. Do you know how many people you are away from meeting Ted Turner. It has been estimated between 2 and 10 introductions. The median is 6. DO you know anyone over at the XYZ Company? No, but I know someone who might. Ask people for introductions.

3) Take Your Boss to Lunch.

While you’re working on getting ideas for names, take your boss to lunch. Now this means that you pay. Say to your boss, “Who do you know? What do you think I’m good at? Where do you think I need improvement? Will you be giving me a good reference?” Ask him for that reference. Ask him for ideas of leads that you should go and meet. Your boss is well connected. Take your boss to lunch… it pays for itself ten fold.

4) Ten Minutes to Success.

I want you to make a phone call and say, “So and so gave me your name. I would like to have 10 minutes of your time. Would any of these times, 8:40am , 10:50am or 3:20pm be convenient for you?” Do not make an appointment on the hour of half-hour. Psychologically, when you ask for those 10 minutes, and ask for them on the hour, you are asking for an hour of their time. When you ask for time on the half-hour, I hear a half-hour. I will not give that to you. I will give anyone 10 minutes.

Questions to ask.

How did you get to your present position?
What specific skills are required for this position?
What classes or experiences proved to be the most practical and useful to you?
What personal characteristics are needed to perform well in this position?
Who should I meet and what advise can you give me at this point?

Then go back home and write a thank you note to the individual who gave you that time. I did not say type or email! The reason I suggested writing is that most employers know how easy it is to email and are not impressed. It is so easy to send a thank you note off your computer. What’s not easy is for you to sit down and carefully pen a note.

5) Remember Your Peers.

Whenever you find information that is not of use to you, give the information away. There is not a finite amount of data available. Give away as much information as you can.