Networking Works!

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Define the word, Network.

According to Google, a network is 

"a group or system of interconnected people or things."

A simple explanation, but why is this important to you?

A recent survey by Lou Adler reveals that 85% of jobs are found through networking. 

That's a simple stat that lends to the notion that if you want to get a (new) job, you need to network.

But how should you network? 

Connect with as many people as you can, but how should you connect?

I'll try to answer these questions but also tackle the most important part of networking; what to do after you've connected.

It's also important to continue to network even if you have a job. Yes, even a very good job. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average stay at a job is 4.4 years. You need to keep your network maintained and growing so you are always prepared for the unexpected. Consider it insurance.

To keep things simple, I'm going to focus on the most important and most valuable networking; growing and maintaining your network when you are out of work, also known as "in transition".

How to Connect

Fortunately, there are many ways to connect. You connect with people every day. If you venture from home at all, you see people everywhere you go. Some encounters are valuable, some are not, but it's important to look for places to network that will put you in contact with those who can help you maintain and grow your network and help you with your ultimate goal of finding a job.

Where to go?

• Starbucks - It's not very productive to use this as your primary method. Concentrate on the most valuable. You'll use Starbucks to meet your connections for Informational Interviews once you've started to connect.
• Industry groups - Connect with people that do what you do. Those people may be in the companies that are hiring and will know about the hidden jobs.
• Alumni groups - Connect with those who went through what you went through. You share a comradery and the whole point of alumni organizations is networking. 
• Church groups - Connect with people who worship as you do. Many churches have career coaching and counseling ministries.
• Community groups - Service organizations. Give back to the community and meet the local business leaders who just might be looking for someone like you.
• Groups setup specifically to network - People who are proactively growing their network. There are many local networking organizations whose sole purpose is to network and assist in your job search.

I'm networking, now what?

The important thing is to not just to connect, but to engage.

Look through your contacts in LinkedIn. Are there a few names you don't recognize? Those are the people who you have connected with but have not yet engaged in meaningful communication.

Engagement will bring you MindShare. You want to be the first person someone thinks of when an opportunity presents itself. Your connections should know who you are and what you do. If you have engaged, you'll be the person who comes to mind when someone hears about an open position.

In Practice

In the past few months I've established a number of connections through the list that follows. I'm not an expert at connecting and engaging. As I study the subject, I'm learning a lot and am working on applying what I've learned.

• Industry groups - I find that many of the IT industry groups I've connected with are all about helping vendors find customers. Not very valuable. I have connected with TENG in Orange County but the meetings are infrequent. 
• Alumni groups - I've joined an alumni group and am now serving as VP of events. My goal is to schedule events that promote, develop and measure success of networking events. So many do not know how to network at an event. I'm hoping to teach a few how to do it.
• Church groups - If you're in Orange County, California, come to Saddleback Valley Community Church on Monday nights for their Career Coaching and Counseling meetings. There are workshops to help you manage your job search and connect with others. You might ask, "Why should I network with people who are unemployed like I am?" 1) Someday they will be employed and may learn about positions that might be right for you, and 2) Not all are unemployed. Some are there to continue their networking and connecting in preparation for their next change.
• Community groups - I've joined Rotary Club, volunteered for City committees, help my HOA with technology and social media (and write a newsletter), and I am a Lead at Nextdoor.com. I've met a lot of people and engage on a daily basis.
• Groups setup specifically to network - Laguna Niguel Connectors is a local group that was formed to facilitate networking in Orange County. The founders still attend and help facilitate more formal networking exercises. They're experts are networking with the right people and engaging.

To execute a successful networking strategy, do this

• Find at least one local career networking group.
• Start attending meetings and start meeting people.
• Connect with those people on LinkedIn.
• Ask them who they would recommend you talk to.
• Ask for 1/2 hour Informational Interviews over coffee or lunch. (If you invite them, you pay their tab.)
• Ask them who they would recommend you talk to.
• Start writing and sharing articles or blog posts (like this!) on LinkedIn.
• Comment on other's articles. Look at articles your connections like and comment on and start connecting to the authors of those posts.
• Congratulate connections on job promotions, new jobs and wish them Happy Birthday.

Don't just connect, NETWORK! Get people to think of you first when those hidden jobs are discussed.

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