1. Know what you are looking for- Job seekers are often unclear about the job they are seeking.  As an example, I received an email that read “Please think of me when you see an opening.”  I had no clue of the work the individual was seeking, what location(s) he desired, or the organization(s) the person had in mind.  The job seeker may have known all the answers to these questions but because it wasn’t clear to me, so I wasn’t able to help him.   

2. Make it easy for your network– Don’t make your contacts guess, be clear in what you are seeking.  Make a list of the titles you are interested in, your preferred organizations, and what location(s) you are willing to work in.  You may also include a few of your accomplishments.  Your network may not know of any current openings, but they may be able to introduce to people in your preferred organizations. 

3.  Write a simple email- One of the easiest ways to connect with your contacts is through a simple email.  I recommend that that you personalize the beginning paragraph to each individual.  The next paragraph can be devoted to explaining your situation and asking for help.  An example is:

I am looking for a position in sales.  I have recently received an award for being the top sales person at my company and would like to expand my role into management.  My company currently does have a management position available, so I am looking at other options.  I am keeping this job search confidential at this point but if you know of anyone at these organizations (include a list of preferred organizations)  I would welcome an introduction.  I am seeking a role in inside sales at the manager level or above.  I prefer to stay in the Treasure Valley area but I am open to travel.  I appreciate your help.  Please let me know if I can assist you in any way.

Contacting your network may be a bit awkward at first, but in the end, it could pay off with big rewards.  Time and time again, I talk with people who have received a job offer directly as a result of a referral or an introduction.  If you have been procrastinating on informing your network, I invite you to spend a few minutes to get the word out.  It may be the most important email of your job search.

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Engage with companies on their social media- Find out what social media platforms your favorite organizations regularly use.  Search to see if they are actively posting in Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.   Once you know what platforms an organization uses, actively follow discussions and posts.  Start to engage in the discussions so that your presence is known.  Your goal should not only be to showcase your knowledge and skill, but to create positive relationships with recruiters.  A position may not be open immediately but trust that recruiters will be taking notice for future openings.

Show Off Your Work In Social Media- “Twitter and LinkedIn are excellent places to build a conversation or share industry-relevant news” says David Schwab, Senior Vice President at global sports-and-entertainment marketing firm Octagon.  Sharing his insight with Forbes, Schwab advises to also build an Instagram account or display your portfolio via Pinterest if you have expertise that is visual in nature. “If you have great content, a following will come. This type of activity helps to differentiate you as a candidate and can help propel you onto an employers’ shortlist. And don’t just use LinkedIn as a digital resume, the platform provides excellent tools to organize and show off your work and tangible results and impact.”

Schwab adds: “Make sure your social media platforms are updated and that your feeds are appropriate for an employer to see. Many will look at a candidate’s social media as a gauge of social know-how, and as an indicator of how that candidate would handle themselves in professional situations.”

Join Talent Communities- Organizations are creating talent communities made up of potential employees that are connected through social media.  Wikipedia defines talent communities as “an environment consisting of people who can share ideas for the purpose of career networking or social recruiting of candidates.”    

Not all organizations will have defined talent communities but many large companies will have talent community pages on their websites.  For example, Johnson & Johnson has a “join our global talent hub” button on their careers website.  When you register, you will receive customized job alerts delivered to your email.  Other companies such as GE offer registration to their talent community through your LinkedIn profile. 

Some companies have well developed talent communities that are very beneficial to job seekers.  Lockheed Martin has taken the concept to a new level by offering live virtual chats with their recruiters.  Being able to talk with the person who reviews your resume, can be just what you need to help land an interview.

Seek Referrals– The conclusion from a 2018 Silkroad report on 300,000 hires was that employee referrals is the #1 source of hires.  Work to get referred by first reaching out to your own network to see who they know and who they can introduce you to.  Often we dismiss our own network but you don’t know who your connections are interacting with  until you ask.

Sometimes, it will seem that you are able to get on a potential employer’s radar just by good luck but Thomas Jefferson once said, the harder you work, but more you have of it.

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1. Think of topics you like to discuss– How to start a conversation is a common fear among networkers.  Tackle that fear by thinking of things that you like to discuss such as movies, books, hobbies, traveling, pets, or kids.  This mental preparation helps with conversation starters.

2.  Know who will be at the event– If at all possible, get a list of who will be attending.  If you can’t obtain a list before the event, go a little early and ask the organizer for the information and then identify who you would like to meet.  Look for people who are associated with organizations you would like to pursue.  Having a plan gives you a sense of purpose and eliminates the fear that you will be aimlessly walking around.

3. Know what message you want to convey- It is important that you think through in advance what you would like your networking contacts to know.  If you are in job search mode, be prepared to tell them what positions you are seeking, what companies you are targeting, and what you do well.  This is sometimes known as an “elevator pitch” because it is short enough to say to someone that you meet in an elevator.  You may want to practice it on a friend so that you feel comfortable with your delivery.

4.  Prepare some questions in advance- Questions such as “Are there any other events that you would suggest that I attend?” or “Who else might you suggest that I meet?” may give you valuable information.

5.  Track your contacts- The magic of networking is transforming a contact into a mutually beneficial relationship.  The only way this can be done is if you follow up with the person.  Ask for a business card or at least, get an email address.   At home, either develop your own tracking system or choose one that you can use consistently.  The most important thing is that you are able to easily find the contact information when you go to follow up with the person.

6.  Know how you will follow up- A way that I like to continue the relationship with a contact is to ask if they are on LinkedIn.  If they are, I go home and immediately ask them to connect.   If they aren’t on LinkedIn, I send them an email telling them how much I enjoyed meeting them.  Depending on the person, I might also ask if they would like to meet for coffee.  This is an easy way of furthering the relationship.

7. Think how you can give back- Author and speaker Bob Burg says “The successful networkers I know continually put the other person’s needs ahead of their own.”  Networking should be a two way street with both people helping each other.  Think about how you can give back to the person who has helped you.  Giving back could be in the form of emailing an article or a fact that may be of interest to your contact.  It may be passing on some information about an upcoming event or training.  Giving back may even mean introducing your contact to someone whom the contact might benefit from knowing.

Networking is a wonderful way of building relationships that lead to new career opportunities, so be intentional about your networking.   Take time to prepare for your next event.   You will be greatly advancing your career potential if you do so.

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