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Networking comes in many forms: Everything from meeting an old friend for a cup of coffee to ask how she likes law school, to having your best friend's father put in a good word for you at his company, to connecting with someone online with the skills and experience you need to become more successful.
How Do I Find Networking Contacts?
There are many ways to identify networking contacts. Here are some places to find folks who know something about a field, organization or school you're considering:
- Your college alumni association or career office networking lists.
- Your own extended family.
- Your friends' parents and other family members.
- Check out specialized online networking sites to search through a database of millions based on your particular criteria.
- Your professors, advisors, coaches, tutors and clergy.
- Your former bosses and your friends' and family members' bosses.
- Members of clubs, religious groups and other organizations to which you belong.
- All the organizations near where you live or go to school
What Can These Networking Contacts Tell You?
There are several benefits gained by connecting with alum, old coworkers or professionals you met through a networking site:
- They can tell you what it's really like (from their perspective, of course) to work in a given field or organization now. They can also tell you how the field has changed and what they see for the future.
- They can help you understand the aptitudes and training needed to get into and be successful in a particular field.
- They can give you the inside scoop on schools and training programs.
- They can give you insider information on an organization, such as who is in charge, what the culture is like, what kinds of people have held the job you're looking at, what it takes to succeed in that position, what new directions or changes might be happening soon, how to customize your cover letter and resume to get noticed, how to market yourself effectively and tips for interviewing. A cover letter and resume that demonstrate that you are just the kind of person an organization is looking for can really give you an advantage
Every once in awhile, the person with whom you're having an informational interview will offer to help move your application along. When that happens, it can be a real advantage for you. But whether you get that offer or not, the nuggets of information you've gathered can be essential in helping you sort out your options and present yourself more effectively. And always be sure to thank them… It's a critical step in effective networking that is often forgotten.
