Working the Network

Posted by mmetz on December 26th, 2009

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It’s no secret that finding a job these days is a difficult task. The national unemployment rate is at 10% for the month of November, that’s 15.4 million people out of work. Now that’s a lot of resumes floating around out there and if yours is one of them, it’s very easy for it to get lost in the stacks. So how do you get to the top of the pile or even in it at all?

It’s all about who you know.

That’s right, it’s all about networking, or is it? Networking these days has such a serious and uptight connotation that people who set out to just “network” end up becoming just a talking resume. Is it possible to effectively network without becoming another forgettable face? Of course!

-Get involved: Every professional community has mixers and organized events where you can meet people who work in the field you are trying to hire into. Go there not to “network”, but to be friendly with people, relax, chat it up, and the “networking” will follow.

-Relax: Most likely you will not get a job offer within thirty seconds of meeting someone, so don’t push like that’s your goal. Find some common ground to talk about, keep the conversation friendly and moving, and eventually it will flow into business. If it’s all about who you know, then it might be a good idea to take some time and get to know them.

-Leave your bubble: Some people have a comfort zone that they refuse to leave when meeting new people. If you’re at an event, don’t be afraid to walk up and start a conversation with someone. When you introduce yourself, stay away from questions that will result in one or two word answers, such as: “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” These can quickly lead to some slightly awkward and forgettable encounters.

-No event, no problem: There are plenty of other ways to meet contacts while applying for jobs. For example, don’t just send in your resume to a company, call them up and see if the position is still open. When you do this, you connect a voice with the name on the paper and most of the time you will get a mini interview right over the phone.

-Not hiring at this time: If you call up and get this response, you should automatically be triggered to ask if they have an unpaid internship available or see if they have some time for you to come in and learn about the company. This tactic is always well received because it shows you have initiative to make contact and you’re willing to make the extra effort, even if there is no compensation involved.

-Forget stranger danger: Everyone you meet is a potential business contact. Start talking to people on the bus, at the grocery store, in the mall, or at the park. You’ll be surprised at how small of a world it is and how many people have a family member or close friend who they can put you in contact with.

So when you’re out there, be yourself, loosen up, and get your name out in a positive memorable way.

What are your thoughts on networking and how it should be approached?

Photo by: soschilds // CC BY 2.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics