One of the most effective things you can do for career development is network. So why do so many job seekers resist doing it? Fear.
Don't let anxiety stand in your way. Reaching out to your contacts not only builds your opportunities, it also helps you learn about your industry and helps you practice effective interviewing,
as noted by this IndyStar.com blog. It advises people to:
- Listen. When speaking with clients or individuals, listen and ask questions. Make sure the person on the other side of the conversation is doing most of the talking.
- Prepare. Before participating in any event, set goals and identify the information you are looking to receive.
That post is aimed at people in the sales industry. And when you are searching for a job, you are selling something you really (or should) believe in: you!
Most journalists are good at networking. You interview your sources to get the story; likewise, you should work your network to report your strengths and experience to others.
Spurred by the IndyStar.com post, here are some of my suggestions on effective networking:
- Focus your attention on the person you are meeting.
- Approach the discussion with context, having some understanding of the person, the company and what the company does.
- Connect. Know what matters most to the person you're talking to. Then make that connection work.
- Promote yourself. Have confidence in who you are, what you have to offer and what you can do for the prospective employer.
- Know your strengths and the value you can offer a company, and be able to speak to these clearly and concisely.
In this newsletter from CPP, a company that does leadership and management training, a recent college graduate said she had avoided her college career counseling office partly because she assumed she could find anything she needed on the Internet.
Don't underestimate face-to face contact. Who you know helps you get into a company. Sure, once you are face-to-face with a potential employer, you have to interview well, but getting that interview is all about networking.
Begin now to build those contacts. Keep in touch. Keep a record. Don't be afraid to talk to your contacts regularly, asking who they know and what they know about opportunities. And follow up with their advice.
