Networking
What is "networking"?
Networking is the key to your job search. Networking is getting out there and meeting people and it's not just shaking someone's hand, shoving your business card at them, and then hoping that they're going to call you. Networking is the foundation of relationship building and your career needs to be 80% relationship building, 20% development and maintaining your skills and knowledge. It's not what you know; it's who you know, and that is very much true. You must get out there and determine who do I need to meet, who's going to help further my career, who can be a great mentor to me, who can possibly hire me, and where do I want to work? And go out there and meet those people. If you don't know how to get to a particular person, through your networking it's six degrees of separation, well that's what it used to be. It;s now down to about three. So chances someone you know, knows someone who knows that person you want to meet. And you need to get out there, get to professional associations, get to community and civic groups, get involved in your church, in political organizations, PTA, whatever it might be because you never know who you're going to meet at these types of groups and you never know who those people are also going to know.
How do I begin networking for my job search?
Networking involves creating what we call a "sphere of influence". Your sphere of influence is that collection of people who you know and that can start with your dentist, your hairdresser, the person who does your nails, who cleans your house, who details your car. And those people, they all know other people. What you need to do is start with family, friends, the people in your life who you seek out-again, your dentist, your hairdresser-and let them know you're looking to build your network. Ask them, "who do you know who you might be able to introduce me to?" "Here's what I'm looking to do, here are my specific goals, who do you know who might help facilitate those things?" You will be amazed at how quickly your sphere of influence can go from five people to five hundred. All you need to do is ask.
