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How did you
get your job? I landed my position through a friend of a friend
of a friend. Ever heard this one before? This scenario is an
example of networking. Many people believe networking is all
about using other people to get what you want. However, this
is not the case. It is really about establishing relationships
to help tap into a hidden employment market containing many unadvertised
jobs and internships. Talking with people in your target field
is the best way to explore your career options, gather information,
and understand how to market yourself to potential employers.
Regardless of the industry or type of position you are seeking,
networking can significantly increase your chances of finding
a great opportunity.
If you are
like most college students, you may be uncomfortable with this
job search method at first. You may feel as though you don't
know anyone in the work world. You may be hesitant to begin calling
people you've never met. You may be unsure about what to say
when talking to a networking contact. Once you learn the basics
of networking and start making a few contacts, you'll begin to
see positive results and feel more comfortable with this job
search strategy.
Knowing
What You Want
Prior to communicating with people in your network, you must answer a few fundamental
job search questions.
- What industries
are you targeting?
- What positions
interest you the most?
- What are
your specific career goals?
- What skills
are you marketing to potential employers?
Knowing the
answers to these questions will help you effectively communicate
your career direction to your contacts. Contacts will be able
to help you more if they have a clear understanding of your career
plans. Also, be sure to spend some time preparing a brief introduction
about your background, experience, skills, and goals. Practice
this introduction so you can deliver it with confidence. You
are now ready to compile a list of potential contacts. Write
down the names of all the people you know:
- friends
- family
- neighbors
- former co-workers
- professional
colleagues
- faculty
- contacts
from professional organizations
- counselors/advisors
in career services
- recruiters/staff
you have met at campus presentations
- Florida
Tech alumni
- anyone else
you know!
Now you can
put your list in order. Place the people who are most closely
connected to your future career field at the top. You should
start with this group as they will be able to share the most
relevant advice and information. At first, you may be hesitant
to begin calling the people on your list. However, you will be
pleasantly surprised to learn that most people are very responsive
and enjoy helping others. If you are considerate and respectful
of people's time, most networking contacts will help you.
Making
the Connection
You can communicate
with a networking contact by phone, a letter, Email, or in person.
To initiate contact, you can call directly or write a letter
and then follow-up by phone. When calling a contact, be sure
to leave a clear and concise message about your connection to
the person and what you would like to discuss. If you have left
several messages with no response and haven't already sent a
letter, you may want to send a letter outlining your request.
Occasionally, you will have the opportunity to talk with a contact
in person at a company presentation, professional association,
or other event.
Here are several
suggestions to follow when you are communicating with your contact:
- Ask the
contact if it is a convenient time to talk or if you should
arrange another time
- Be sure
to have your introduction prepared and be clear and concise
with your delivery
- Prepare
a list of questions prior to talking with the contact
- Mention
how you identified the person
- Know what
information or advice you are seeking
- Do some
basic research about the contact's employer and industry
- Ask the
contact if you can send them your résumé
- Gather contact
information such as the spelling of their name, mailing address,
phone and fax numbers, and an Email address
- Expand your
network by asking the contact to refer you to other potential
contacts
- Ask the
contact if you can keep in touch periodically throughout your
search
Keys
to Successful Networking
Here are some
final tips for successful networking:
- Always send
a thank-you letter after someone has helped you
- Organize
your efforts by tracking who you've contacted, the date of
the contact, and the outcome or action step which resulted
- Notify your
contacts when you have found a position
- Be helpful
to others when they ask to network with you!
- Consider
everyone you meet a potential networking contact
- Seek out
new networking contacts by asking for the business card of
any potential contact
- Join a professional
organization related to your career interests (e.g. a student
interested in working in the Space program might join the American
Institute of Astronautics & Aeronautics)
- Be enthusiastic
and positive when talking to your networking contacts
Networking
is all about building relationships with others. It is a two-way
street and only works if you are willing to give as well as receive
career information and advice. Expect your contacts to call you
in the future when they need your help. Keep in mind that networking
doesn't end once you have found a position. You are encouraged
to view networking as an ongoing process where you continue to
establish professional contacts. With a strong network in place,
you'll be ready to make a career move at any time.
You are encouraged
to meet with a Career Services counselor or advisor to discuss
your specific networking efforts. The Alumni Affairs Office on
campus is also an excellent resource for networking contacts.
Good Luck!
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