Employment networking has been cited as the predominate source by which jobs are found.
64%-75% of all jobs are found using networking and personal contact! Employment networking accounts for between 2-3 times more jobs than all other employment sources combined!
In essence, the importance of networking as a job-hunting tool rests in the fact that networking is the key vehicle by which the job hunter can gain access to the "hidden job market."
Getting to these jobs before they are released to the general public places you at a distinct competitive advantage over the masses of qualified candidates with whom you would otherwise need to compete. In fact, if you can create interest in your employment candidacy before the company takes action to make the job opening known to others, you can literally reduce the competition to zero and end up with a viable employment offer.
Networking, then, becomes the key to conducting an effective job-hunting campaign. Without it you can render your job search impotent.
Employment networking simply means using both your personal and professional contacts to identify employment opportunities. The objective is to access these contacts and to solicit their assistance in helping you find employment, for these contacts can provide you with job leads directly or indirectly (through others whom they know).
The key to a successful networking plan and being a great networker is preparation. In his book, 'Power Networking', author Marc Kramer offered several networking suggestions. Many of these can be applied to an unemployed person attending job fairs and netwroking with the people that they know.
Keys To Being A Great Networker:
- Dress appropriately and get to events early.
- Bring plenty of business cards.
- Make a goal to meet five new people in an hour.
- Never start a conversation by talking about yourself.
- When talking about your company, make your explanation short.
- Keep your conversation short and focused.
- Never sit with colleagues from your own company at an event.
- Never sit with a friend you normally socialize with at an event.
- Never talk about sports, weather, or entertainment at a business event.
- Always send a letter to the people you want to know within two business day following the event.
- Confidently introduce yourself and deliver a firm handshake.
- Make eye contact and smile with everyone you meet
- Never let your eyes wander, even if you're bored.
- Eat immediately if the event that you are attending is a stand-up affair and finger food is served.
- Move around constantly.
- Escape politely if you've struck the party bore.
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