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Value of Networking
- Networking is one of the most
effective ways of finding employment. |
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What is
networking? |
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Network contacts
may be personal acquaintances or not. |
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Remember that networking is suppose to be reciprocal. Make networking an attempt to develop professional relationships, not just getting a
position. |
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People have varying opinions of networking. When asking someone for a chance to talk - be honest and
straight forward, but you may want to avoid using the term networking. |
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If the contact names was given to you by someone else, be
sure to explain that in your request. (e.g. Dr. Smith suggested that I give
you call. I am graduating in May and will be seeking employment in . . .. She
thought that you might have some advice or tips for me.) |
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Be flexible and polite. Understand that a contact may
not have time to talk to you right now, but may have time later. |
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What is an
"informational interview?" |
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Sometimes called
information interviews. An informational interview is a
interview schedule with a contact to gather information about a career
field. Information interviews are used to ask for information, not
ask for a job. |
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Remember the goal is to gather information, not ask for employment. Know what you are going to say before you schedule the
appointment. Misuse of the scheduling of informational interview with
prospective employers and using the interview as an opportunity to seek employment has
lead many employer to refuse to grant them. |
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Be careful not to cross the line or avoid using the term
informational interview if you are not sure the direction the discussion might head. |
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Why is the
networking such a big deal? |
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Some studies have estimated that networking plays a role in
about 50 percent of employment placements. Most of the top tier universities (Harvard, Berkeley,
Stanford, etc.) claim between 40 to 50 percent of their graduates gain employment through
network contacts. Most employers start looking for a job candidate before the
position is approved, vacant, posted and/or advertised. |
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A personal referral is most trusted - contacts get your
interviews. Contacts can help you present yourself better;contacts offer practical advice; contacts have an insider view; contacts can explain what the position is really like; contacts expand your knowledge about the industry; contacts help you to build your confidence; contacts can provide information about actual salary ranges; contacts can describe typical career paths;
and contacts help you target yourself for a specific position. |
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Networking contacts can become career long friendships and
mentors. |
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Also see Article: Build a
Network Before you Need One |
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How to Network |
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Be
proactive
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Develop
a list of prospective contacts:
friends and neighbors (friend's parents and parent's friends); family
and relatives; fellow
students; community
leaders; religious
leaders and members; student
clubs; civic
associations; professional
organizations; trade
journals; former
employers, co-workers, customers; faculty
and administrators; alumni |
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Join
organizations and take opportunities for leadership positions; Attend
professional association conferences, workshops and events; Join
discussion groups, newsgroups and career specific chat rooms; Do
volunteer work at work, in professional organizations and in the community; Dress
and act professionally when you travel
even
for leisure travel ; you
can make great contacts on a plane; Make
contacts; Contact
people who can help you identify decision makers; Contact
people who can help you locate job openings; Be
prepared to understand if a contact cannot or will not help. |
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Developing good
networking skills |
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Have
clearly defined career objectives before you start to network; |
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Be
open and talk about your job search with others, even at chance encounters. Let
your contacts know about your skills and the types of positions you are
seeking. |
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Dress
professionally for planned networking get togethers. |
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Ask
for additional names; remember
that tiny bits of information add up. Ask for business cards/carry
business cards. Make notes. Keep good files and records. Keep
records up to date. |
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Remember to mention your contacts in
cover letters.and follow up and send a thank you letter. |
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After you find a job, notify all of your
networking contacts and tell them briefly about you job and thank them
again. |
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Networking Myths |
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Networking
is a hard sell, aggressive job searching method that includes deceiving and using people.
- You should be open and honest in your networking efforts. Remember that many
industry are close knit and these people will be your business associates in the future. |
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Networking
efforts are best conducted on the phone. - Face to face meetings are more effective, but
phone sessions are sometimes the only alternative. |
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These
people are too busy to talk to me. - Some of your contacts will be too busy or have no
interest, others will. The more you know, the better business associate you will be
in the future. Chances are someone took time to help your contacts and you are
giving them an opportunity to repay a kindness. |
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I
don't need information, I need a job. I should spend my time preparing and sending cover
letters and resumes. - Referrals are preferred to strangers. |
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I can
turn an informational interview into a chance to ask for a job. - You will not succeed by
attempting to turn an informational interview into a job interview. An informational
interview is suppose to be a relaxed exchange of information, a job interview is anything
but. |
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I have
always had success gaining part time and summer employment. The job market cannot be
that different. - Remember many positions are never listed. |
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