Showing Up Is Not Enough: Five Ways to Get Better Results From Networking

Why do people avoid one of the most effective job search strategies?

For a lot of people networking is an unpleasant necessity of the job search. Much like the idea of public speaking sparks dread, networking causes otherwise confident job seekers to doubt their worth. They know it’s a good way to make key contacts for job leads and referrals.  But, somehow, that understanding is not enough to get people out there.

When I work with my clients, I always encourage networking as an essential job search and transition strategy. Whether it’s attending job fairs, networking events or informational interviewing, we work out a plan for incorporating this into their strategy. Without networking, it’s very hard to achieve any level of success in the job search. If you aren’t actively networking, you’re likely wasting valuable job search time and missing out on opportunities. 

Here are five tips to help you get better results from your networking efforts.

Networking Tip #1: Adjust your Attitude- Rather than view networking as sucking up and shuffling business cards take the approach that it’s about educating yourself about opportunities. That education could be in the form of meeting new people, learning a new idea, learning about new ways of connecting with people, getting company and industry information, and, of course, job leads.  That attitude helps when you have to reach out to strangers for informational interviewing or are following up after a networking event, something I do on a regular basis. Networking also gives you the chance to practice self-marketing. You can tell right away if you’re getting your message across.

Networking Tip #2: Be consistent- Every networking event you attend is not going to result in new business, the best new contacts or a job. The same is true of people you meet. While the exact timing might be right, it’s unlikely. However, you can definitely meet people who could be instrumental in getting the job or opportunity you want in the future. To increase your chances of that happening you have to network regularly and build your reputation within a sphere of influence. Then, you can reinforce that positive impression through your follow up activities.

Networking Tip #3: Attend the right events- You’ve probably heard the sayings, “different strokes for different folks” and “birds of a feather flock together.” That applies to networking, too. Attend the events that are most likely to be attended by the people you want to meet. The cost in time, resources and money can start to add up quickly, so you need to be strategic about how to spend your networking dollars and have a clear reason for attending the events you’ve chosen. There are trade and professional associations for every interest and career field.  A simple Google search can yield good results to help you find local groups. Also, check the calendar section of your local newspaper or the chamber of commerce.  Something else to keep in mind is the format of the event. If you’re trying to meet people, attend events that have some form of structured networking. For example, at the dinner meetings of one of my networking groups, each table guest gets time for a 30-second introduction and passes their card. So, at the very least, each month I meet 8-9 new contacts.

Networking Tip #4: Use technology tools- Despite what you might have heard about online social networking tools being for kids and Gen Yers, they are very powerful resources in any job search or career transition.  With very little effort, you can connect with people in your industry across the world. You can get easy access to job openings, company information, and job search advice. On tools such as Linkedin and Facebook, you can establish a professional profile and identity. I regularly post on Twitter and Facebook to connect with job seekers and let people know what I’m doing, professionally. I can get real time information from hundreds of people. It’s great.

Networking Tip #5: Follow up with the people you meet- This is an important yet often overlooked step. Since so many people don’t follow up, you’ll stand out. People will likely form a positive impression of your conscientiousness, professionalism and follow through. Attributes all employers are seeking.  Follow up can be tedious, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I use Act! and 1shoppingcart.com to keep up with my contacts. I suggest you create an easy-to-follow process and implement it consistently. For example, within 24 hours of meeting someone, send a short “nice to meet you” note. In the note you can reference anything from your conversation to make the note memorable. You can also suggest meeting in person to learn more about each other’s job search needs.  Rather than creating a note from scratch each time, prepare a template you can easily modify and update as needed. The template can include a brief biographical blurb and the help you’re looking for in your job search or career transition.

Between meetings, you can keep in touch by sharing information that could be helpful to the other person. That could include information about other networking events, job search articles, or key contacts. If the other person sent you information, you can follow up with a status update.  Find ways to keep in touch. At first, it will feel awkward, but if you keep it up, you’ll gain momentum and feel more comfortable.

Final Thoughts
Networking is one of the most effective job search and career transition strategies. Without devoting time and energy to it, you will be missing out on tons of opportunities.

From personal experience, I know the power of networking. My parents were good role models for how to connect with people for professional and personal reasons.  In fact, my dad made an introduction that lead to me becoming a career counselor. Even with those examples, I was intimidated when I had to start doing it on my own.  I soon realized that if I wanted to succeed in a job search or in getting clients for my business, I better figure out a way to overcome my fear and get comfortable with networking. I tried out various techniques and found the mix that works for me. I encourage you do to the same.

Request my free special report: 6 Tips For Discovering The Work You Love By Working With A Career Counselor to learn how to get focused in your job search.

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Markell Steele is a career counselor, owner of Futures in Motion, Inc. and author of Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love. She helps frustrated job seekers find career direction so they can get the job they want in less time with less stress. Follow her on twitter to get daily job search and career transition tips- http://twitter.com/futuresinmotion

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