A difficult but critical aspect of most job searches is the implementation of effective networking. Networking can assist your search in many ways, from giving you inside information on job listings (sometimes even before they hit a service like www.RochesterJobs.com!), inside information regarding a company or opening, to even an endorsement for the role. Networking can be valuable in all of these areas.
So why, if networking is so beneficial, do so many candidates not do it or perhaps just do the minimum. Well…networking can take real effort, especially requiring us to proactively reach out to people and open up to them regarding our need for new employment. Perhaps, that is why most searchers only do the most obvious surface-level networking. By this, I mean job seekers tend to immediately go to the former manager(s), some co-workers, and even some family members when they network. However, there are many others to consider connecting with for assistance.
It may not be obvious to you who else should be caught in your network net. So, let’s look at others that you should consider when networking.
• Current Employees – A great networking source can be the current employees of the company that you are targeting. That does NOT mean that you need to know these people. There can be a lot of negative aspects to modern social media, but one of the good things is that it can connect you to people that you don’t know. When on LinkedIn, search for those who work at your prospective employer and send a connection request. These people may help you with a range of things, from notifying you of open positions to letting you know more about the company. Just reading their postings, comments, and “Likes” can also prove be very informative.
• Disconnected Co-Workers – We all have a small/medium group of former co-workers that we reach out to when needed. But what about those who you have not been connected with for a while? You needing new employment might be just the reason for you to reach out to them and reestablish your relationship.
• Extended Family – Everyone thinks of their immediate family when they’re in some job search need. But what about cousins, nieces/nephews, etc.? They all might be in a position where they can be of assistance to you.
• School Connections – People who went to the same school tend to be loyal to each other, especially if you went to a smaller High School or University where most people knew each other and multiple generations of families attended over the years. Connect via the Alumni Association, or just do it yourself via social media.
• Clients – If you have already left an organization, then connecting with former clients can be a major assist. These individuals can vouch for how professional you were working with them. They also may have a large network that you can connect with to expand yours even further. Finally, I know of many people who ended up going to work for a former client, so it makes sense to keep that bridge established.
• Everyday Acquaintances – This is probably the biggest area where a person has to get over sharing that they are looking for work. Now remember that you don’t have to go into any great detail about why you are looking, just let people know that you are on the market. Just like a salesperson will look at almost anyone as a potential customer, you can view the various people you meet as networking candidates. This could be your hairdresser/stylist, the people standing on the sidelines with you at your child’s game, or your neighbors. All you have to do is break the ice with them regarding what they do for a living, and then quickly assess if you should go further by sharing your situation.
• Social Media – You can easily use social media to your advantage by doing more than just looking up people. Create your own connections network by posting/re-posting content for others to view, and you just may find yourself having people follow you. You can also start liking/commenting/connecting with others who are active on professional social media. By making yourself visible in this manner, you expose yourself to not only the poster, but also their followers.
Networking is one of the most important tasks that you can do to assist you in your job search. It is essential that you don’t just focus on the obvious (see above), but go beyond this small circle when networking. Casting a wider net will allow you to have more people working on your side in your job search. This may provide to be just the competitive advantage that you need in landing your next position.
As always, best of luck in your job search.
The following has been prepared for the general information of RochesterJobs readers. It is not meant to provide advice with respect to any specific legal or policy matter and should not be acted upon without verification by the reader.
Joe Stein
WNY Human Resources Professional
Feel free to contact Joe Stein regarding questions or comments at:
Joe Stein
