Community Employment Resource Centre
How To ...
How To .. Network Effectively
Networking means letting all the “right” people know you are seeking employment. It is not “socializing”, rather it is developing contacts with people to achieve goals and build personal rapport.
Have a goal – why are you at the event – for information or for contacts
Be prepared – identify contacts, prepare questions
Listen – show genuine interest
Ask questions – open-ended questions are best to gather large quantity of information, while closed-ended should be used for specific information
Follow up – indicates integrity and remember to thank people for their time and keep lines of communication open; keep in touch with people who help you get your job
Don’t be afraid of rejection
Include the informal contacts – family friends, teachers, neighbours, co-worker; take advantage of everyday interactions