It’s time for a job change, so you update your resume, let your references know, and get to sorting through listings on Monster, Craigslist, and Indeed.
After submitting your resume a hundred times and writing a customized cover letter for each opening, you’re left wondering if you’re ever going to receive an actual response from a human being.
It’s tough. I’ve been there and I’ve seen friends go through it, and it’s hard not to give up when it seems like you’re throwing yourself out into a void of applying to jobs online.
I have a better solution for you: create a network.
You might hit a goldmine at some point by applying to different jobs online, but all the time you’ve spent crafting those cover letters and making sure those emails are addressed to the proper person can be used to network instead.
Networking and developing connections is 10x more effective than hitting “send” and hoping someone who isn’t a robot receives your resume.
Of course, networking isn’t always easy, especially if you’re an introvert (don’t I know!). But even though it isn’t easy to start, it gets easier once you’ve established those connections, because whenever you need a job in the future, you know who to reach out to.
Is Networking Really Worth it? Yes!
Some of you may be skeptical, and that’s understandable. I was before I had any sort of connections, too. It seemed like too much work and I didn’t think anyone would even care to network with me.
But what if I told you I’ve never had to look for a client as a freelancer?
Thanks to my super generous friends (and connections), I haven’t. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my network. That’s just a fact.
DC has written about his experiences as well – he’s networked into every job he’s had.
I hate to say it because it’s so cliche, but it really is who you know – what you know comes second.
It makes sense, too. If I have to turn down work because I’m swamped, I recommend the people in my network – people who I know are reliable and skilled.
I feel comfortable recommending them because I’m familiar with their work ethic and their accomplishments. That recommendation goes far with a client or hiring manager who doesn’t want to go through a million emails, cover letters, and resumes.
It makes it easier for everyone involved.
If you weren’t convinced before, hopefully you realize the “secret” to landing more opportunities is in your network.
So how do you go about networking effectively for a new job? Let’s take a look, because there’s definitely a right and wrong approach here.
Networking Effectively: Seek Out Others in Your Industry
Having a wide network is useful, but only when it actually pertains to your industry. Having lots of connections within the police force is great if you want to become a cop, but not so great if you’re looking to teach in a certain school district.
So make sure you’re investing your time into developing connections that you can actually use.
Okay, but where do you actually find these people?!
Living in a populated area, or an area where your industry is booming, is definitely a plus. The more people available to network with, the better.
Finding them shouldn’t be that difficult, either. Here are a few ideas:
- Go to meetup.com and see if there’s a local group within your industry that already connects with each other every so often
- If your industry is more casual, you might have some luck checking Facebook to see if there are any groups that meet in your area
- One easy answer is to look on LinkedIn. Have a good reason for connecting with someone, reach out to them, and maybe that will lead to meeting over coffee
- Attend industry conferences and network with speakers, attendees, and sponsors. You should be able to find events with Google
- Ask your co-workers if they attend any networking events within your industry
- Besides LinkedIn, get online! There could be forums or blogs discussing your industry that might provide you with a few leads
Once you find a place where you can network with others who might be able to help you, the next step is actually knowing how to network.
Networking Effectively: Be Yourself, not Someone Else
I know this sounds cheesy, but stay with me. If you were at a networking event, and someone came up to you being, well, obnoxious and salesy, would you appreciate it?
“Hey, my name is Jim, and I work at XYZ Business. My title is Super-Important-Dude-Behind-the-Desk. Here’s my business card, we should connect some time! Okay, see ya!”
Probably not. Don’t be Jim. (Sorry to any Jim’s out there.)
I just came back from a Financial Blogger’s conference, and people were still making this mistake, so even though it’s obvious, it’s worth repeating.
You don’t want to waltz into this event, brandishing your business card to every.single.person. You especially don’t want to interrupt conversations already taking place.
Yes, developing a network is important, but it’s not so important you need to be rude about it. People still have boundaries at networking events, so respect that!
What you really want to do is develop meaningful connections. The people you’re meeting are still people, even if they can help you secure your dream job. Don’t look to take advantage of them; look to befriend them and take an actual interest in their work.
You might be surprised by what you learn. At the conference I attended, people are doing all sorts of things, and it’s very inspiring to see all the different routes you can take to success.
The best way to develop these meaningful connections is to be yourself. The connections will come much more naturally when you’re not forcing your business card or elevator pitch on people.
That goes double for one-on-one or group meetings. Say, instead, that you’re having coffee with a potential mentor. Be present in the conversation and don’t waste the other person’s time. People can tell when you’re looking to get something out of them rather than listen to their wisdom.
Bottom line: when you’re networking, figure out what you can offer people so that you’re providing them with value. It’s not about “me me me,” it’s about what you can do for them to help them out. And don’t lie about it. You’ll be much more likely to find someone willing to help you if you’re willing to help them, and I’m sure you have something you can offer.
Networking Effectively: Have a Plan
The worst thing you can do at a networking event is be that person in the corner on their phone, pretending to be busy.
I totally get it. As an introvert, that’s what I’d like to be doing at networking events. Putting yourself out there can be hard.
And if you’re looking to have a one-on-one meeting with someone, forget it! You’re probably super nervous.
To overcome this, have a plan ready. I’m talking about having a list of questions ready for people to keep the conversation going, and possibly having a list of people you want to connect with (if you know who’s going ahead of time).
Networking is a lot easier when you know what you want to get out of it, so establish a goal ahead of time.
So you’re looking to get a new job. Great. Does your industry have different lines of work? Make sure you know exactly which one you’re aiming for, and if you’re not sure, then start asking questions to those who are in that line of work to determine if it’s right for you.
Are there a limited amount of companies to work for in your area in your industry? Do you want to work at only one of them? Then you might want to pinpoint employees that work there and see if you can talk with them first.
Are you looking to make a total career switch and have no idea what you’re getting into? That’s fine – networking events are the perfect opportunity to get information to determine if an industry or job is right for you.
People generally don’t mind talking about themselves or what they do – that’s half the point of being at a networking event! Don’t be shy, but be respectful. If you can tell what the person is talking about isn’t of interest to you career-wise, then don’t waste their time agreeing to a separate meeting because you’re afraid to say “no.”
You can always politely decline, thank them for their time, and explain to them they gave you greater clarity.
Networking Effectively: Mastering the Follow-up
Following up after a networking event might seem easy, but there’s a few things to keep in mind when sending that, “Hey, it was great to meet you!” email.
First, don’t be generic. It’s very, very easy to tell when someone is copying and pasting a follow-up email. I just delete it and move on because it’s not genuine, and I’m all about those meaningful connections.
Instead, reference something you talked about, or find an article that might provide them with value. “Hey, it was so great to meet you during [this event]. I really enjoyed talking about [topic of conversation] with you. I came across this interesting [resource] and thought you might appreciate it. It made me think about our talk.”
Alternatively, if you’re newer to the workforce or the industry you’ve been looking into, you can let the person know how much you appreciated talking with them. “Hey, it was so great to connect with you at [event]. I’ve been thinking about what you said and have already implemented a few of the ideas you gave me. [Tell them what you’ve done.] I can tell it’s already helping! Thank you for passing that knowledge on to me.”
People enjoy knowing their time wasn’t wasted, and by telling them you’ve implemented what they shared (such as developing a new skill), you’re not only showing that you listened, but that you took the initiative and are serious about going further in your career.
That might sound silly, but you wouldn’t believe the number of people my friends and I have tried to help as far as freelancing goes. It’s tough work, and most people aren’t willing to do it. When advice falls on deaf ears, it’s not fun, so when someone tells you they followed your advice and got results, it’s nice to hear.
Networking Effectively: Keep an Open Mind
You might find connections where and when you least expect it.
I know quite a few people who have an amazing network just because they’re outgoing and like to ask engaging questions when they first meet people.
If you’re genuinely interested in people and what they do, then your network might naturally expand without going to a meetup, conference, or workshop.
Even better, you may find yourself on a different path one day, calling upon this network you never thought you needed.
For example, I started blogging with no freelancing plan in mind. I made friends within the community who I genuinely valued and wanted to help, and it just so happened that many of them (including myself) took the leap to self-employment. I didn’t know it at the time, but those connections have been priceless.
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At the end of the day, effective networking is about figuring out how to help people – how to provide value – and creating a win-win situation for you and the other person. It’s not about who gets the most business cards or who’s the best at small talk.
People would much rather recommend the person that took the time out of their day to listen to them and ask them thoughtful questions than the person who slapped an impressive looking business card in their hand.
Do you have any tips on how to network effectively? How have you leveraged your network in your career?
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Great tips Erin. We wouldn’t be where we are at with our business if it wasn’t for networking. I love your point about adding value – that’s so important. It’s easy to fall into the trap that it has to be all about you, but so much of networking is about adding value and not just taking. I firmly believe this is one of the situations where the more you give, the more you end up receiving in the long run.
I agree, John! Unfortunately, it seems like networking has this dirty stigma that is has to be sleazy, which makes people feel uncomfortable with it. They then approach it from the wrong angle. If you think of networking as building two-way connections, it becomes easier.
These are really good, specific tips, Erin. Being genuine is so important. I got my first job in a very competitive field for my region through my network. And I have landed most of my freelancing work through my network rather than cold pitching.
Networking used to scare me but it gets easier once you get yourself more out there and people do respond to a genuine personality. =)
Networking is something I wish I had done more of in college & my former employer. It’s how I have gotten all my jobs (with the exception of McDonald’s in high school) and it’s how people get promoted.
Yes, you need to have ability and a personal drive to succeed, but “who you know” is a very valuable asset. You never know when an old acquaintance or classmate might be your primary reference.
It’s sooo true that it’s who you know not what you know. This can also open up doors you would never even ventured towards without knowing these people.
I agree about making sure to remember that they are real people that you are speaking to, and make sure you don’t come across all sales as no-one is interested in that. This is a really helpful list, thanks Erin :-)