Networking

Seven Ways To Network

Create a database of everyone you know as well as people you admire in the professional field you’d like to enter.
Notify the people in your database by telephone or e-mail that you’re interested in
networking to find a job or internship (send individual e-mails). Be upfront about your intentions.
Ask them to share your information with people they know.
Invite several people in your database to meet for coffee to share with them your
professional goals.
Join at least one organization to help you meet new people. Take a leadership
position in the organization.
Circulate your resume on to people outside the usual circles and ask them to forward it to a few
appropriate people.
Write thank-you notes to people who have helped you.
Pay it forward. Help other people when you can, and you may be repaid in unexpected ways.

Dos of Career Networking

Follow the rules of good etiquette. Be polite!
Maintain confidentiality when asked, and protect your sources.
Be creative and resourceful in your approach to networking.
Give as much as you get from you network contact. Offer help; do not wait to be asked.
Make a commitment to networking so that it becomes an integral part of your job search strategy.
Keep in touch with established networks as you develop new ones.
Follow up on leads and provide feedback to your source.
Acknowledge your network contact’s ongoing efforts, as well as thanking them for results.

Don’ts of Career Networking

Expect your network contact to do your thinking for you.
Burden your network contact with a problem unless you’ve worked on it yourself.
Dominate the conversation when networking.
Expect your network contact to find you a job or get you a promotion.
Ignore advice you’ve requested. Consider it seriously, even if you don’t follow it.
Give a referral without calling ahead to alert your contact.

Where to Meet Business Networking Partners

Finding Personal Networking Partners