BUILDING AND MAINTAINING YOUR CAREER NETWORK

Building and maintaining your career network is important whether you are job searching or employed. In simplest terms, networking means expanding current career/work relationships and maintaining those already in place. It takes more than just informing people of what your work needs are at a given time. Maintaining a network means staying in touch with those people who are in a position to assist you. It can tell you who is hiring, what the job outlook is for your career, upgrades or new skills that you need to acquire, spin-off or related career fields that are developing and are considerations, new influential contacts that you can use, and contacts who can recommend you for job openings. Your next job will most likely come from a job lead from a person in your network.

PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE IN YOUR NETWORK:

* Any headhunters or recruiters that you like.

* Church members you know and trust.

* Classmates from high school or college.

* Family members who are employed or have many contacts.

* Former employers and/or co-workers.

* Fraternal brothers and/or sisters.

* Friends and neighbors.

* Friends you meet in coffee shops or at social gatherings.

* People in your line of work on Linkedin.

* People you have connected with in your job/career networking groups.

* People you list as references.

You do not need to limit yourself to these choices only. Include anyone working who might have contacts and could get you a job lead. Stay in touch with everyone and supply them with current Resumes.

DEVELOPING A SUPER NETWORK: In the next section, I give you a form to list network contacts. Identify people to target who you think are essential to your job search or potential career change. Place an asterisk by their name or highlight it with a yellow marker. You may want to create a new super list of these people with all of their contact information including the company where they work. Make a notation of his/her position or title and how you think they may be able to help you. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOCUS ON OR TARGET PEOPLE IN FIELDS THAT YOU WANT TO WORK IN AND ASK FOR INFORMATION - NOT NECESSARILY A JOB. The information that you are seeking includes: who is hiring; who is the hiring authority in his/her company; who do you know in other companies in that field; are there other firms you know that are hiring in your field and is your company expanding business into other markets. These are all key questions which you can be asking that can have an effect on your job search or career change.

INITIAL CONTACTS WITH YOUR NETWORK: Some contacts you list may be people that you do not know very well. Whether they are friends, classmates, former co-workers or acquaintances, your approach is generally the same. YOU ARE AFTER INFORMATION. (Note: The best way to make contact with a person you do not know is with a typed letter.) However, if you are speaking with them directly, the following are some phrases that you can use as you begin contact with them:

* Can I meet you for a cup of coffee or lunch sometime? I need your help in networking for employment in ______.

* Do you know of companies hiring ______? I am looking for work in that field.

* I am interested in obtaining work in ______, and would appreciate your help.

* I am looking for work in ______ and have made a list of companies to contact. Would you be willing to look at the list and give me some advice and leads?

* I am looking for work in ______. Can you put me in touch with the hiring authority in your company?

* I need your help and advice. I am looking for a job in ______. (Often, people are flattered that you are asking them for advice.)

All of these leading statements can be used to network, although you may have some other ones that you prefer.

HOW TO KEEP IN CONTACT: You should stay in touch with people every other week while looking for a job and 3 or 4 times a year if you are employed and just maintaining your network. I suggest the following ways:

* A short note to contacts thanking them for their assistance and telling them you are still looking for a job.

* E-mails.

* If you are now looking at a related or spin-off career, you need to let people know. Any changes in your Resume or career direction should be communicated to everyone.

* In person visits.

* Letters.

* Morning coffee or business lunches.

* Telephone calls.

MAINTAINING CONTACT: Once you have made contact with a person and forwarded a Resume to them, you need to keep them updated on your search. E-mails and phone calls are the best way to keep key contacts updated every two or three weeks. Others can be followed up with letters. Keep a detailed list of who you contact.

WHAT TO SAY TO KEY CONTACTS WHEN YOU UPDATE THEM:

* You are still looking for a job and appreciate their assistance.

* You are updating your network and checking to see if there is any new hiring going on at their firm or if he/she has any referrals to other firms.

EXPAND YOUR CONTACTS AS YOU COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE. TRY TO GET REFERRALS/NEW NAMES TO ADD TO YOUR NETWORK.

REMEMBER - ONCE YOU GET A JOB, YOU NEED TO ADVISE YOUR NETWORK THAT YOU ARE EMPLOYED SO THEY DO NOT CONTINUE LOOKING FOR A JOB FOR YOU.

DEVELOPING AN INSIDER NETWORK: It is wise to develop an insider network at target companies where you want to work. Insiders are key people who are in a position to tell you when a job is open and who the hiring manager is. They can pass your Resume on to the hiring manager and other key people in the company or department where you would like to work. You may want to develop a special insider networking form with the names of key people with their phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

DEVELOPING A PLAN B NETWORK: You may find it necessary to take a Plan B job outside of your field as you continue your job search. This will most likely differ from your search to find employment in your chosen field. I suggest the following:

* Consider janitorial services and driving/delivery jobs.

* Consider night time jobs that may free you to job search during the day (office cleaning, Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and other box stores).

* Let friends, relatives, former co-workers, coffee shop acquaintances, etc. know you are looking for leads for a temporary job outside of your field.

* Read the help wanted ads and check with people at your network meetings.

* Visit coffee shops often for leads.

* Visit malls where there are many stores.

GOOD NETWORKING WILL PROBABLY BE THE WAY YOU GET YOUR NEXT JOB AND MAINTAINING YOUR NETWORK PERMANENTLY IS ESSENTIAL.

NETWORKING IS A TWO-WAY STREET: Remember, you also need to be of service to people in your network groups. You can do so by:

* Being a personal friend to them in times of need.

* Calling or sending a congratulations card if you learn of a promotion or other success they may have achieved.

* Giving them tips on job openings if you are aware they also want to change jobs and/or upgrade.

* Sending business their way through your friends and acquaintances.

Bob Raikes, National Certified Career Counselor