MAINTAINING YOUR CAREER NETWORK

Maintaining your career network is important whether you are job searching or employed. In simplest terms, networking means expanding current career/work relationships and maintaining those already in place. It takes more than just informing people of what your work needs are at a given time. Maintaining a network means staying in touch with those people who are in a position to assist you. According to a recent USA Today article, 61% of all jobs are gained through networking. Networking is important to you. It can tell you who is hiring, what the job outlook is for your career, upgrades or new skills that you need to acquire, spin-off or related career fields that are developing and are considerations, new influential contacts that you can use, and contacts that can RECOMMEND YOU FOR JOB OPENINGS .

DEVELOPING A SUPER NETWORK

Take the list of persons that you have identified on the networking list I have given you and target those that you think are essential to your job search or career change that you want to make. Place an asterisk by their name or highlight it with a yellow marker. You may want to create a new or super list of these people with their Names, addresses, phone numbers (home, work and cell), e-mails and the company for which they work. Make a notation of his or her position or title and note how you think they may be able to help you. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOCUS OR TARGET PERSONS IN FIELDS THAT YOU WANT TO WORK IN AND ASK FOR INFORMATION -- NOT NECESSARILY A JOB. The information that you are seeking includes: who is hiring; who is the hiring authority in his/her company; whom do you know in other companies in that field; are there other firms you know that are hiring in my field and is your company expanding business into other markets. These are all key questions that you can be asking that can have an effect on your job search or career change.

INITIAL CONTACTS WITH YOUR. NETWORK

Some of the contacts you list on your network may be persons that you do not know very well. Whether they are friends, classmates, ex-co-workers or acquaintances, your approach is generally the same. YOU ARE AFTER INFORMATION. Following are some phrases that you can use as you open contact with them.

*I need your help and advice. I am looking for a job in _____________. (Often people are flattered that you are asking them for advice -- it makes them feel needed and important)

*Do you know of companies hiring ___________? I am looking for work in that field.

* I am interested in obtaining work in __________and I need your help and counsel.

* I am looking for work in __________. Can you put me in touch with the hiring authority in your company?

*Can I meet you for a cup of coffee or lunch some rime? I need your help in networking for employment in ______

*I am looking for work in _______________ and have made up a list of companies I want to contact for employment. Would you be willing to look at the list and give me some advice and leads?

*I am making a list of companies that hire ____________. Would you be willing to look at my list and help me add firms that hiring to it?

All of the above are leading statements that·could be used. You may have some better ones that you like better.

THE BEST WAY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH A PERSON YOU DO NOT KNOW IS VVITH A TYPED LEITER

HOW TO KEEP IN CONTACT

*E-mails

*Telephone calls

*Letters

*In person visits

*Morning coffee or business lunches

* A short note to contacts thanking them for their assistance and telling them you are still looking for a job

*If you are now looking at a related or spin off career you need to let your network know.

E-MAILS AND PHONE CALLS ARE THE BEST WAY TO KEEP KEY CONTACTS UPDATED EVERY TWO OR THREE WEEKS. OTHERS CAN BE FOLLOWED UP WITH LETTERS.

WHAT TO SAY TO KEY CONTACTS WHEN YOU UPDATE THEM.

*That you are still looking for a job and appreciate their assistance.

*That you are just updating your network and are checking to see if his/her company is hiring.

* Still looking for a job and wondering if there is any new hiring going on at their :firm.

* Just updating you on my job search and wonder if you have any referrals to other firms.

EXPAND YOUR CONTACTS AS YOU COMMUNICATE WITH PERSONS IN YOUR NETWORK. TRY TO GET REFERRALS - NEW NAMES THAT YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR CONTACT NETWORK.

REMEMBER - ONCE YOU GET A JOB YOU NEED TO ADVISE YOUR NETWORK THAT YOU ARE EMPLOYED SO THEY DO NOT CONTINUE LOOKING FOR A JOB FOR YOU.

DEVELOPING AN INSIDER NETWORK

It is wise to develop an insider network at target companies in which you want to work insiders are key people who are in a position to tell you when a job is open: who the hiring manager is, and can pass your resume on to the hiring manager and other key people in the company or department where you would like to work. You may want to develop a special networking form with the names of key people with phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

GOOD NETWORKING WILL PROBABLY BE THE WAY YOU GET YOUR NEXT JOB AND MAINTAINING YOUR NETWORK PERMANENTLY IS ESSENTIAL.