The Benefits of Networking

THE BOUNDLESS BENEFITS OF NETWORKING

Most people think finding a new job or changing careers is an easy task. They could not be more wrong. Changing your job is one of the most difficult and stressful tasks an individual can undertake. Some job seekers actually believe they can find a new job or change careers simply by posting their resume on job boards like monster.com, career builder or Craigslist and recruiters and prospective employers will magically gravitate to them. Finding a new job or changing careers is an arduous task that involves enormous proactive efforts on the part off the job seeker.

The single most effective way to land the job you are seeking is to utilize your network of contacts. Your network can get your resume in front of hiring mangers. Hiring managers and corporate recruiters are inundated with an enormous amount of resumes, they are not humanly capable of reviewing all of them with the diligence that you hope for. Most resumes, including yours, are simply lost in the pile. However, a friend or someone in your network has the potential of getting your resume reviewed by the corporate recruiter or hiring manger. Getting yourself in front of the decision maker is your ultimate goal.

In order to effectively utilize your network, stay in contact with people you know and respect. They might not be able to assist you at the present time, but in the future they may be the key to obtaining the position you seek. You never know who may be able to assist you in your efforts, so talk to people wherever you go, the person sitting next to you on the subway might possess the key to obtaining your dream job. By asking the question: “So what do you do?” You are opening a door to all sorts of opportunities, the potential for discovering otherwise unobtainable information will astound you.

Learn to be a good listener. Most people love to talk about their career, success and interests. By asking questions you are encouraging another person to divulge all sorts of information that you never would have discovered, there is an art to being a successful conversationalist: Be the person who listens, people WILL talk about themselves and divulge valuable information. Approach people carefully, each person requires a special approach, be conscious of how you engage them and observe their behavior. The art of conversation takes practice and preparedness. If someone asks you what you do, be prepared to respond with up to date information that will not only inform them but INTRIGUE them!

Your body language is important, the way you present yourself makes others perceive you as either approachable or unapproachable. Be receptive to others and greet everyone you meet with a broad smile, everyone loves to be treated with kindness and respect. When you speak, be calm, interactive and most of all CONFIDENT. People are attracted to someone who has self-confidence and the ability to engage and relate to them on a personal level.

Join clubs and networking sites like Linkedin, you just never know where your opportunity will come from. Always follow up on leads and even though a potential lead may not be the dream job you had in mind, keep the lines of communication open in case there is opportunity in the future. Networking WILL definitely increase your chances of landing a dream job. It’s not difficult, but takes time to master. Use every resource available because you never know where opportunity will come from