According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 80 Percent of All Jobs Are Found

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 80 percent of all jobs are found through conversations, otherwise known as networking. Networking is a fancy name for simply having conversations with a variety of people you know or will soon know in your community.

Connecting with people and having informational conversations with them is the best and quickest strategy to help you get hired right away.

People lead people to jobs, and this is the most effective way to get hired.

Employers prefer to find new employees from people they trust. This network of referrals is called the hidden job market. You can tap into this network by getting to know people who can help you. Build your networking relationships over

Tips for Building Your Network

Ask for information.

 You can ask about the occupation. You can also ask about industries or employers.  Ask about what you want to know.  Be polite. Don’t be too pushy or you may turn people off.  Be ready with a list of “Informational Interview” questions.

Be prepared to talk about yourself.  Make sure you’re clear about your job skills and background for your job target.  Utilize your “Elevator Pitch” when introducing yourself.  Have your job search tools ready; business card and/or resume Follow good networking habits.  Networking is like making friends. It's about building relationships.  Think about ways to give something back to those who have helped you.

Find people in your job target.  Start with friends, family members, past coworkers, and neighbors. They may

People Lead People to Jobs P a g e | 2 EKCEP Job Club Topics © 2015, Eastern Kentucky C.E.P., Inc. know someone in your target job.  Tell them about your career goals. Send thank-you notes when people are helpful to you.  Always say thank you for any information or job leads you get.

Find a mentor connected with your industry.  This is a person who knows about the occupation you are interested in.  Get feedback on your job search ideas and questions.  Check in with them periodically, so they continue to be on the lookout for jobs for you. Look into professional associations and volunteer groups.  See if your job target has a professional association. Join these associations and start having conversations. Many members are eager to help job seekers. They may know employers with job openings.  Go where the employers go: join and attend professional organizations and civic events in your community. Checkout: Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Lion’s Club, Young Professionals, political parties, and faith based communities.  Volunteer to serve on professional boards for non-profit organizations, or volunteer your time to serve on community wide events that showcase your skill-sets. (This is a great way to keep your skill-sets, and ultimately your resume current if you’re long term unemployed (LTU).  Create an online LINKEDIN and TWITTER account, and start connecting with professionals in your industry. Join online groups and “twitter chats” and be a frequent contributor by adding your expertise and valuable content.

People Lead People to Jobs P a g e | 3 EKCEP Job Club Topics © 2015, Eastern Kentucky C.E.P., Inc. Keep your key contacts informed about your efforts in the job search.  Periodically update your key contacts about your job search  Get creative when reminding your contacts that your job search is still on- going. (One LTU job seeker created a monthly blog, in a newsletter format, that showcased his monthly job- searching journey. He shared humorous updates, funny cartoons, and even added an “Honor Roll” list for his key contacts that month that went above and beyond in sending him job leads or networking referrals. )

How You Know Them Their Names Name 1: Name 3: Family Name 2: Name 4:

Friends & Neighbors Name 1: Name 3: Name 2: Name 4:

Hobbies & Sports Activities Name 1: Name 3: Name 2: Name 4:

Networking & Name 1: Name 3: Social Club Members Name 2: Name 4:

Community & Name 1: Name 3: Political Groups Name 2: Name 4:

Name 1: Name 3: Place of Worship Name 2: Name 4:

High School & Name 1: Name 3: College Alumni Name 2: Name 4:

Name 1: Name 3: Supervisors & Coworkers Name 2: Name 4:

Colleagues from other Name 1: Name 3: Departments & Companies Name 2: Name 4:

Name 1: Name 3: Customers & Clients Name 2: Name 4:

Trade & Professional Name 1: Name 3: Organization Members Name 2: Name 4:

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is it important to have conversations with people?

2. What categories of people are in your network? (Church, hobbies, sports leagues, co-workers, etc.)

3. How did you find your previous employment opportunities? Did people help lead you to them?

4. What types of “informational interview” questions can you ask when you are “networking” with people you just meet?

5. How many new people and/or employers have you met since joining Job Club? Can you add any of these people to your networking community?

______