Networking is powerful. I've seen stats that report that anywhere from 60-80% of job offers come through networking chanels (that's who you know). I'm not sure about you, but that gets my attention. While I'm not endorsing the networking bootcamp plug that's thrown in at the end of this video, I think this video give you a nice overview "Why Network to Find Your Next Job."
Now, what do you do with this list you’re generating of people you know or are becoming acquainted with through close friends and family (see my last post called Networking 101)? The first thing you want to do is to begin to discern who would be best to bring into your Career Network circle. If you recall from my last post, your CN should be made up of “people who have an interest in, work in, or knows someone who works in your career field of interest or at least a field you’re exploring” (March 2, 2010). You next task is to start talking with the people you have identified and learn all you can about your field of interest. One strategy that is commonly used is the Information Interview. An Information Interview is a powerful way to gain information about a career field and to develop your relationships with people who may then become part of your official Career Network. You’ll find a great resource on Information Interviews here. I hope you’ll find this useful. The people you bring in to your CN can help you learn more about the day to day work and trends in your area of interest, refer you to potential jobs or internships, expand your network and introduce you to other professionals, and offer general career advice. It’s useful to go back to the definition I offered in the last post “a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest” and look for ways that you might be able to support or serve the person your meeting with. Maybe they need a contact at your school for recruiting; maybe you can volunteer with them or help with a particular project (of course you win to by gaining experience). Think about your skills and ask how you might be able to help them in return. At the very least, by asking you show that you’re not just in it for yourself. And, of course, always follow up with a thank you note. You’ll get more great tips in the link I gave you above.
Here’s a YouTube video that walks though some strategies for networking and building your Career Network. Enjoy!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Getting Started with Networking
According to Dictionary.com
net•work•ing –noun: a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.
We can all come up with a list of people in our lives that fit this definition. Usually, a network is made up of people in your close circle of family and friends who help and support you, and you reciprocate. But what I want to write about today is your Career Network. Career Networking (CN) is developing associations with people who have an interest in, work in, or knows someone who works in your career field of interest or at least a field you’re exploring. To build your CN you will need to place yourself in circumstances that allow you to meet and develop relationships with people. So how do you do that? Here are a couple things you can start working on now.
1) Contact everyone you know and put your request out there. Your request simple: “I’m looking to meet people who work in {enter your career field of interest}. Do you know anyone?” See, simple! Now, you can certainly make your request more personal and maybe give more information but that’s essentially what you’re looking for. You can do this by sending an email to all your personal contacts, shoot out a Facebook status update for a few weeks, make some calls to your close friends and family… make sure everyone in your close circle of family and friends knows what you want. Get organized and create an excel spreadsheet or a folder where you keep all the referrals you receive from close family and friends.
2) Get involved in something. On campus that may mean attending club meetings, departmental colloquiums, job fairs, workshops…you get the idea. When you attend these events, be prepared to stick around and introduce yourself to other students, the speaker, faculty and staff in attendance. Challenge yourself to start making conversation. The easiest way to start and maintain conversation is to ask people about themselves. “What do you do?” “How are you involved on campus?” “What are you interested in?” “What classes do you teach?” “What kind of research do you do?” Often these questions are reciprocated and BOOM you have a 2 way conversation going and, potentially, a new person in your Career Network. To maintain these new connection you must must continue to engage in theri lives. Don't just join a group to join, get involved and you will get to know others in the process. You will be amazed at how helpful having a network of peers and faculty and staff can help you in your pursuit of your chosen career path. Does anyone have any examples of how this type of networking has helped you?
So, from all of these great connections you’re making from your close family and friends, peers and faculty and staff on campus, what do you do next? I’ll address that in the next post. If you would like some extra reading on communicating with people about your career interests and needs, read this article called 5 Elevator Pitches That Get Job Referrals. Keep in mind as you read this that Networking and Elevator Pitches are not just for job referrals, but also help you gain career information.
net•work•ing –noun: a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.
We can all come up with a list of people in our lives that fit this definition. Usually, a network is made up of people in your close circle of family and friends who help and support you, and you reciprocate. But what I want to write about today is your Career Network. Career Networking (CN) is developing associations with people who have an interest in, work in, or knows someone who works in your career field of interest or at least a field you’re exploring. To build your CN you will need to place yourself in circumstances that allow you to meet and develop relationships with people. So how do you do that? Here are a couple things you can start working on now.
1) Contact everyone you know and put your request out there. Your request simple: “I’m looking to meet people who work in {enter your career field of interest}. Do you know anyone?” See, simple! Now, you can certainly make your request more personal and maybe give more information but that’s essentially what you’re looking for. You can do this by sending an email to all your personal contacts, shoot out a Facebook status update for a few weeks, make some calls to your close friends and family… make sure everyone in your close circle of family and friends knows what you want. Get organized and create an excel spreadsheet or a folder where you keep all the referrals you receive from close family and friends.
2) Get involved in something. On campus that may mean attending club meetings, departmental colloquiums, job fairs, workshops…you get the idea. When you attend these events, be prepared to stick around and introduce yourself to other students, the speaker, faculty and staff in attendance. Challenge yourself to start making conversation. The easiest way to start and maintain conversation is to ask people about themselves. “What do you do?” “How are you involved on campus?” “What are you interested in?” “What classes do you teach?” “What kind of research do you do?” Often these questions are reciprocated and BOOM you have a 2 way conversation going and, potentially, a new person in your Career Network. To maintain these new connection you must must continue to engage in theri lives. Don't just join a group to join, get involved and you will get to know others in the process. You will be amazed at how helpful having a network of peers and faculty and staff can help you in your pursuit of your chosen career path. Does anyone have any examples of how this type of networking has helped you?
So, from all of these great connections you’re making from your close family and friends, peers and faculty and staff on campus, what do you do next? I’ll address that in the next post. If you would like some extra reading on communicating with people about your career interests and needs, read this article called 5 Elevator Pitches That Get Job Referrals. Keep in mind as you read this that Networking and Elevator Pitches are not just for job referrals, but also help you gain career information.
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