When you are looking to get a new job, or you are just thinking that you would perhaps like to, you will find that you want all of the job search tools at your disposal, and one of the most important things that you need to think about is what your networking looks like. Networking is a very a powerful tool, but while you know that you should do it, you might not necessarily know what that entails. What does good marketing look like, and how can you make sure that you are going to get the most out of it? The truth is that networking is quite powerful. When you think about job search tools and given that more than sixty percent of people will get jobs through friends, family or co-workers, you will find that the more you know about networking, the happier you are going to be.
Talk to everyone.
The more that you put yourself out there, the better; in terms of job search tools, this is quite important. Talk to anyone who seems friendly, because you never know who they are or who they might know, and at the end of the day, you never know what kind of connections you can make. Make sure that you get to those get-togethers that your co-workers plan and don't decline a chance to meet people who might be interested in your talents. It doesn't have to be all about work, and you will find that there are several things that you can do make yourself and them more comfortable. Work on establishing a rapport and remember that at the very least, you had a good conversation.
Be nice
While of course you should always be nice and considerate, remember that you should never bad mouth anyone that you ever worked with or for. As mentioned above, you just don't know who might be listening. There is nothing more unattractive to a prospective employer than hearing you bash an old job or an old employer, because they are going to be wondering what you might say about them in the future. There is no reason to air out the dirty laundry, and there is no place to trot out “my job was so horrible” stories. It makes it look like you are someone who is willing to speak badly about a situation rather than work on trying to make it better. Even with a bad job situation, talk about everything that you learned and how it just didn't work out for reasons that beyond your control.
Chat briefly
When you are thinking about what you need when it comes to job search tools, remember that you can say a lot with very little. When you are just chatting, don't monopolize the people who are listening to you. Make sure that you exchange information and give them an idea regarding what you are about and what you can do to, but beyond that, you can wait for a more formal meeting as well. Take the time to listen to what they have to say, and remember to thank them for their time and to tell them how much you enjoyed chatting with them. This can go a long way towards leaving them with a good impression and it can tell them a lot about what you are going to be like should they decide to work with you.
Follow up
When you are thinking about job search tools, remember that nothing beats good follow up. Take that contact information that you were able to pick up, and take the time to really go forward and get your work taken care of. Call around, email, and make sure that they know that you are still out there. Keep things quick as ever, but this is a good way to remind them that you still exist and that you are interested in them. Many organizations and people might not have any idea until you are ready to commit, and even then you have to be crystal clear on it. They won't necessarily want to hire you away, because that can be seen as unethical headhunting, and in some ways, one of the best job search tools that you will have at your disposal is going to be how you are going to show yourself willing.
Know yourself
Think about what you are bringing to the table. One of the most useful job search tools out there is to know yourself and what you are offering. Be confident about your strength and what you can do, and you will find that there are a number of different things that you can do in order to make sure that your prospective employers know this. Someone who is strong and confident can go a long way if they just put themselves out there.
Think about the job search tools that you have at your disposal, and never underestimate how powerful networking can be. This goes a long way towards ensuring that you are going to get what you need out of your next job, and you will find that there is a lot to be said for getting started just by chatting!
