career essentials networking
The word 'networking' can conjure up an image of a greasy social climber sliding up to important people at parties then clinging, limpet-like, to their hand, and making them queasy with insincere compliments. No wonder so many people are reluctant to use networking to enhance their careers. Networking really means introducing a greater amount of human contact into the job-hunting process. Central to networking is the idea of making use of informal contacts with helpful people.
Networking facts
There is a mathematical theory that you can find a chain of connection between any two people in the world with an average of just six steps. That means you are only six people away from someone who could influence your career.
For some career areas networking is a useful way to increase your knowledge, for others it may be the only way you can get a job.
The Office of National Statistics published a report stating that only 25% of all jobs filled were advertised. This means that if you rely on advertised vacancies you are accessing only a small proportion of your available opportunities.
Why network?
Gain knowledge – one aspect of networking is gathering information and advice to increase your knowledge. This will help you reality check your career ideas as well as gain insights to impress potential employers when applying for jobs.
Obtain experience – networking can be an excellent way to get work experience.
Check your CV or portfolio – a useful source for obtain advice
Job offer - hopefully you could eventually make contact with the person who could be in a position to offer you work (or at least know someone who could!).
Information – a contact may put you on a mailing list for future invitations, or advise you of forthcoming events.
Contacts – your contact may suggest further contacts for you to approach, or even give your name to their contacts for you.
November 2000 www.plymouth.ac.uk/careers How to begin networking
The first thing to do is to list your existing network of contacts - family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, lecturers, past lecturers, present and past employers.
Then, for the people on your list, think about who they know. Ask your contacts whether they know anyone connected with the area in which you are interested.
Business directories, Yellow pages, Thomsons, specialist journals and magazines, professional bodies and trade associations can all be useful sources starting points. Read the Career Essential ‘finding employment and placements’ for more ideas.
Identify one or two sectors in which you would like to work and do you some research on them. Look beyond the big names to their suppliers, distributors, customers and competitors. Also look at the small businesses growing within these sectors. Scan your local & national papers, magazines, internet, teletext, etc for signs of growing companies. Use careers libraries and public libraries for your research.
Seek out opportunities to meet contacts at trade fairs, exhibitions, recruitment events, careers fairs, events organised by professional associations, conferences, etc.
Some people have even made contacts by hanging around in the nearest pub to a particular employer.
How do I approach people?
You could make contact by e-mail or letter. However, a telephone call (or even a visit) is harder to ignore. Many people will send an initial letter and CV that refers to a follow-up phone call. Remember – a good first impression is essential!
Ask for a short meeting and be clear about what you expect to get from it. Start with low expectations. Saying that you want them to give you a job could quickly lead to a dead end. Be flexible (but politely persistent) in arranging a suitable time.
What could I ask about?
The key to making the most of a contact is preparation. You will get more out of a meeting if you already know the basic facts and you are looking for the extra insights only your contact can give you:
What is a typical day like? How did they get their job? What advice would they give to someone in your position? What improvements would they make to your CV and / or portfolio? How would you get relevant experience?
Be prepared to talk about yourself, emphasising your relevant skills and experience, as you would in a job interview. You could see if they are willing to keep your CV and notify you if they hear of appropriate opportunities.
Most importantly, ask for details of other contacts that might be able to help you – and follow these up. A thank you letter is also a great way to keep a contact. Networking at social events and fairs
‘Social’ networking works on the principle that both parties may gain from talking to the other. Both therefore have legitimate reasons for the contact.
The trouble is that if you're at a trade fair, for example, where companies are selling to other professionals, you may feel you don't have the right to be there, or to initiate a conversation.
Making the most of social events to network is dependent on:
Thinking through what you could gain from the contact. Identifying what the other person could gain from talking to you. Setting realistic objectives for that day. Identifying and practising tactics for approaching people which work for you.
The goals you set for attending an event may be influenced by many factors:
Your personality – whether you're naturally outgoing or shy
How you feel on the day – whether you’re 'up' for it; how tired you are; how keen you are to attend this event; the time of day; your other commitments and distractions at the time; the weather; convenience of getting to the event; etc.
Together these factors mean you may not set yourself the same objectives each time you go to an event to make contacts. Making effective use of social networking opportunities means deciding on realistic aims for the particular event you are attending.
The following questions may help you set goals for attending events.
Easy Difficult How easy would you find it to ... 1 2 3 4 5 Pick up leaflets about the exhibitors or products? Research the event in advance so you know who will be attending? Get past the people on the door who say this event is for ‘buyers only’? Talk with exhibitors About their products? For general advice about getting work in their business? About their work? To show them examples of your work? Ask for their business card for future reference? Ask about possible work opportunities with their company? Ask for their referral to a more appropriate colleague? Try stepping beyond your comfort zone
When considering your tactics try to go beyond your comfort zone. Look at the activities for which you scored a 4 or 5 and identify the reasons why you would find them hard. Can they be overcome? Then look at your 1s and 2s – these could be your objectives for a first visit to your next event.
Successful social networking is about taking lots of small risks. Each success will help you take a bigger risk next time. So, try to step beyond your comfort zone.
Each time you take a risk to talk to someone new and survive, your self esteem will remain intact. If you ask for a referral and succeed your self confidence will be enhanced.
Networking - is it really worth it?
Networking may not get you job offers straightaway. However, as you continue to network you will gain knowledge and confidence. You may also gain invaluable work experience and improvements to your CV or portfolio. You will also get to hear about more opportunities more quickly. Finally in some areas of the economy it is often the most effective or only way to succeed.
Further information and advice
Career Essentials - Finding Employment and Placements The Art of Building Windmills: Career tactics for the 21st Century, P Hawkins 1999 What Colour is your Parachute? R Bolles, Ten Speed Press Build Your Own Rainbow: Hopson & Scally, Management Books 2000 The Power of Networking: Catt & Scudamore, Kogan Page Can I Have a Few Minutes of Your Time? Agcas video Job Seeking Strategies. Agcas Careers Information Booklet or see www.prospects.csu.ac.uk/student/codd/gettingjobs/ Careers Service website - www.plymouth.ac.uk/careers