Learn the Basics of Building Your Job Search Network

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Begin your listч withч yourч closest personal acquaintances.ч Theseч people areч yourч "base" networkч ofч family and friends; peopleч you know personally.ч Your base contacts willч connect youч to an "extended" network of peopleч you are not well acquainted with;ч friends of friends, your cousin"s neighbor,ч andч many others.ч They may not knowч you personally butч throughч your network theyч canч connect you with job opportunities.ч A simpleч example will illustrateч this.ч 

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Begin withч a base networkч ofч five peopleч who know that you are looking for work.ч Withinч oneч week each of them tell five others about your job hunt and those five each tell five more.ч Your base network of fiveч people has nowч reachedч over 150ч contacts.ч Each addition to your base network will increase the number of extended contacts many times over.ч This systemч willч find jobч opportunities you would have otherwise missed.ч Your networking goal is to lengthen your base contact list. ч 

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Before startingч yourч quest for new contacts,ч make it easyч forч them to help you.ч Know specifically what youч want, where you would like to work,ч theч type of work you are looking for, and what help you need.ч Develop these answers into a 30 second summary ofч your employment goalsч that you can smoothly deliver to new contacts. Before going out,ч practice introducing yourself and transitioning a conversation into your employment goal summary. You want toч present yourself asч capable and confident.ч Do notч be afraid to ask for help. Chances are, theч contact you wish to recruit mayч want to add you to their contact list.ч ч 

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Now that you are readyч to begin networking, take careч not limit whoч you talkч with.ч Talk to everyone. The person behind you in line at the grocery storeч may be aч business ownerч lookingч to hire someone with your skills and experience. Networking opportunities are everywhere so look for them and get involved.ч You may find new contactsч in volunteer groups,ч book clubs,ч school sporting events, PTA meetings,ч fundraiser events, civic groups;ч the list goesч on and on. Wherever people are gathered you will find networking opportunities.

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In this busy day-to-day life, staying in touch withч yourч networkч contacts is essential.ч Follow up on new contacts by sending a hand written thank note.ч Everyone likes to be thanked for their help and this personal touch will help to firmly plant you in the person"sч mind.ч For established contacts,ч anч occasional email,ч call or noteч help them to keep you in mind.ч Persistence can beч a virtue, but always exercise discretion and tread lightly.ч You do not benefit from contacts whoч may feelч annoyed or badgered byч overly persistent job enquiries.

Inч a job marketч that is flooded with rз©sumз©sч effectiveч networkingч willч connect you with more job leads in less time.ч If networking does not come naturally for you, then practice your introduction and employment goal script until you sound smooth and natural. This may be difficult at first, but it will get easier with practice.ч Remember that jobs seldom go to theч candidate who knows the most about the job.ч Rather, jobs often go to the candidate who knows the most about getting hired.ч Networking is popular because it works and itч canч work for you.ч 

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