Networking to Get a Job :: Very Important For Freshers

Finding a job in today’s economy can be tough, but there are opportunities if you know where to look. The best way to find these opportunities is not through online job boards, the classifieds, or employment agencies—it’s by talking to people around you. Your network of friends, relatives, colleagues, and acquaintances is a valuable job search resource. Networking may sound intimidating, but it can be rewarding and fun, even if you’re shy or feel like you don’t know many people. Also I am embedded a awesome video about Job by Networking at the end of this topic (Do Watch). 

What is networking?

The vast majority of job openings are never advertised; they’re filled by word of mouth. That’s why networking is the best way to find a job. Unfortunately, many job seekers are hesitant to take advantage of networking because they’re afraid of being seen as pushy, annoying, or self-serving. But networking isn’t about using other people or aggressively promoting yourself—it’s about building relationships.

Networking is the best way to find a job because:

§  People do business primarily with people they know and like. Resumes and cover letters alone are often too impersonal to convince employers to hire you.

§  Job listings tend to draw piles of applicants, which puts you in intense competition with many others. Networking makes you a recommended member of a much smaller pool.

§  The job you want may not be advertised at all. Networking leads to information and job leads, often before a formal job description is created or a job announced.

Here are few Tips for you to find JOB through networking:

Tip 1: You know more people than you think

You may think that you don’t know anyone who can help you with your job search. But you know more people than you think, and there’s a very good chance that at least a few of these people know someone who can give you career advice or point you to a job opening. You’ll never know if you don’t ask!

Make a list of the people in your network

Your network is bigger than you think it is. It includes all of your family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, colleagues, and even casual acquaintances. Start writing down names, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly the list grows.

Tip 2: Reach out to your network

All the connections in the world won’t help you find a job if no one knows about your situation. Once you’ve drawn up your list, start making contact with the people in your network. Let them know that you’re looking for a job. Be specific about what kind of work you’re looking for and ask them if they have any information or know anyone in a relevant field. Don’t assume that certain people won’t be able to help. You may be surprised by who they know.

Figure out what you want before you start networking

 Tip 3: Improve your communication skills

Effective communication is a cornerstone of job networking. As simple as communication may seem, much of what we try to communicate—and others try to communicate to us—gets misunderstood.

Effective communication combines a set of learned skills: attentive listening, recognizing and using nonverbal cues, managing stress in the moment, and understanding your own emotions and those of the person you're communicating with.

Be an Attentive listener

Tip 4: Focus on building relationships

Networking is a give-and-take process that involves making connections, sharing information, and asking questions. It’s a way of relating to others, not a technique for getting a job or a favor. You don’t have to hand out your business cards on street corners, cold call everyone on your contact list, or work a room of strangers. All you have to do is reach out.

 Tip 5: Take the time to maintain your network

Maintaining your job network is just as important as building it. Accumulating new contacts can be beneficial, but only if you have the time to nurture the relationships. Avoid the irrational impulse to meet as many new people as possible. The key is quality, rather than quantity. Focus on cultivating and maintaining your existing network. You’re sure to discover an incredible array of information, knowledge, expertise, and opportunities.

Schedule time with your key contacts

Tip 6: Leverage Poser of Social Network to find a Great Job

Nowadays social media is ubiquitous: you have now Linkedin, Facebook, Google +, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram (I’m sure there are more but these are the well known ones).

But how can you use these free social tools and its power to help you get to the next level of your career or business?

Remember that social media tools are just that-  tools. All they do is to amplify what you already are, be it a business or individual. They act like channels for you to publicize and market your knowledge, skills and brand to the wider public.

My take is that social media, if leveraged right, can have the potential to bring you more clients, jobs, leads and customers.

If you are looking to broaden your networks and job opportunities, a great way to start is to sign up for a Linkedin account. I have a Linkedin account and I mainly use it to connect with my professional contacts. I’ve even gotten emails from recruiters for jobs that match my skills and experiences. I turn them down because at that time, I wasn’t interested in having a new job but as you can see, there is a possible chance that you might be contacted by recruiters on Linkedin if your skills and experiences match their expectations. The key here is to fill your profile with as much details as possible about your skills, knowledge, experience and education.  Or join the groups and discussions on Linkedin and participate in Q&A Sessions with your peers.

Facebook and Twitter are other avenues for you to showcase your insights, knowledge and abilities. You can use them to follow the top leaders in your industry or relevant companies to better understand their ideas, their thinking and insights. Besides following these influential leaders, you might want to tweet or re-tweet interesting tidbits of the people you follow, or your own insights. It is a great way to get to know people.

Watch the video: Networking to Get a Job

Do write to me about your queries, suggestions or feedback at deepesh.divakaran610@gmail.com

Conceived By

Deepesh Divakaran