Networking involves contacting everyone you know and don't know to let them know that you're on the market. It involves asking people to contact everyone they know or to supply you with the names so that you can make the contact. When I say "everyone," I mean everyone. Employment experts insist that networking is the number one means of people finding work.
Get together with your: past supervisors, coworkers, wife, girlfriend, husband, aunt, father, best friends, long lost friends, local businesspeople... everyone and complete the following network lists. Brainstorm; by yourself and with friends. Think of all the people you can under each category and add them to your network.
What you're looking for is a plethora of names. You can fill in the contact information later. Review these lists frequently. Keep trying to dredge up new names to add to the lists. As you come upon a new con tact, add it to your list and contact that person before you forget him or her.
Don't think you don't know anyone that could help you. Think of people whom you admire, have done business with, and socialized with; people from all walks of life. Ask them for their help.
When you contact them tell them, "I really need, and would greatly appreciate, any help you might be kind enough to give me."
When you're looking for work, the natural and first place to look is to companies and people in your industry. That's as it should be. But don't approach the most important aspect of your job search with tunnel vision. Just because you're looking for a job in plastics, doesn't mean someone like your friendly service station owner couldn't help you. Do you know all of his friends, neighbors, and relatives, business and social acquaintances? Do you know all of his customers? Do you know that one of his regular customers owns a plastics factory? Now build your network. Build it long and strong. Never stop looking for new names to add to it. Remember, do not prejudge. Give people the chance to help you. You'll discover that most people love to help other people when asked politely.
Using Your Network
Visit, call, or write to every person in your network. Select the ones most likely to be of assistance and work your way through all of the names. Actually visiting with each person is the best way to go; calling them on the phone is second best; and writing to them is a poor third.
When you contact them:
- Tell them... you're on the market and what kind of job you're interested in. If you have a second choice, mention this alternative position also.
- Ask them... if they know of any companies that might be interested in someone with your particular qualifications. Ask if they could suggest someone who could possibly help you out.
- Remind them... to keep you in mind and that you will be calling from time to time to see if they've come up with any new leads for you to pursue.
- Give them... a few copies of your resume "just in case." Insist they take them-no matter how slim they think their chances are of helping you out. If they place your resume on a desk or bureau top it will remind them you need their help and will be calling back to see what they might have come up with.
Don't Be Naive
Do you think for one moment that all your network contacts will actually distribute resumes for you? Hopefully, you're not that naive! Why then (you may ask), do I give them resumes, ask them to hand them out, and then inquire as to whether they need more? Here is a scenario for what you hope will take place.
The Networking Scenario
You give a long-lost friend three or four resumes-even though he insists he won't be able to use them. He goes home, empties his suit coat pocket, and pulls out your resumes, all folded up. He starts to throw them away but suffers sudden pangs of conscience and, instead, throws them on top of his dresser.
Every day when he gets dressed for work, he "half-sees" your resumes on his dresser. Then, you call him back in a week or two to ask him if he needs some more.
"Heck, no!" he exclaims."I've still got the ones you insisted on giving me. I told you I didn't know anyone to give them to."
The trick is to keep calling him back every two weeks until he begins to complain to himself, "This guy is driving me crazy!" Don't let this bother you. Exactly what you want to happen is happening. Between those resumes on his dresser and your calls, he'll be thinking about you; perhaps not in the kindest of terms, but you will be on his mind.
Then, your friend is out on the links, or in a barber's chair, and he hears about an opening for a... (Whatever you're looking for)... Shazam! Suddenly, lights go on and bells begin to clang. Your unwanted resumes and your persistent nagging pay off. He remembers you. The rest will soon be happy history! That's the way to work your network. It will only take a half hour a day to continually re-contact a different segment of your network, but these thirty minutes a day can get you employed for a lifetime.
