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Building your professional network
One of the best methods that will support you in maximising your overall job search campaign is your professional network. Yet how often do I hear clients comment that their network of contacts is one thing they only seem to follow up on when it’s time to make a career move. This may be true for you too.
It is well known that many job opportunities are never advertised (termed the ‘hidden job market’) - in fact, many industry studies and surveys have found this to be a staggering figure of 70-80%.
According to revelations from the 2006 Executive Job Market Intelligence Report (as reported from ExecuNet):
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70% of companies do not post job opportunities that are offering salaries within the high six figure range; and that.
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Networking outpaces online job postings by 6 to 1 in successful job searches.
Despite the increase of online job boards and job postings, learning that you can increase your success 6 to 1 just by leveraging your professional network through networking, I hope, is enough to prompt you to start building your contact database today!
Here are some great tips and strategies on how you can begin to not only build, but continue to nurture your professional networking into a valuable resource that you can leverage when you are ready to make a career move.
1. Begin with the end in mind
Your goal in building your network is to generate a list of names of people you can connect with and not just a list of people with whom you already have an existing association or established relationship.
Before you begin questioning whether a person should or should not be included on your list, it is important at the initial stage to include everyone who you know on your list. You never know who that person has within their network of contacts. Not including them on your list could potentially limit you from accessing hundreds of other great contacts and opportunities.
2. Develop your network list
Start with a blank piece of paper and draw three columns labelled: Personal; Professional and Other. Then, begin writing down all the names of people you know within each category.
Personal |
Professional |
Other |
- Association Members
- Special Interest Group Members
- Lecturers
- Co-Students
- Recruitment Consultant
- Former Colleagues
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- Neighbours
- Immediate Family
- Distant Family Members
- Church Members
- Sporting Group Members
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- Neighbours
- Immediate Family Members
- Distant Family Members
- Church Members
- Sporting Group Members
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3. Build your online network
Here are a few great ‘free’ online social networking sites that you can begin using to build your database. Having your profile listed on these sites is a great way to maximise your exposure 24/7, 365 days a year.
- Linked In www.linkedin.com If you decide to join up with LinkedIn, make sure you send me an invitation to join your connections. To see LinkedIn in action, here is my profile.
- Social Network Audit
- FaceBook If you decide to join up with FaceBook make sure you send me an invitation to join as one of your Friends.
- Cagora
- Ecademy [you can even upload your CV/resume to this one]
Remember to keep your online message strictly professional to ensure you continue making a good impression when people access your profile.
4. Nurturing your network
The best networking relationship is a reciprocal one. A large and very successful business network group – BNI have as one of their mottos ‘Givers Gain.’ By following this ‘givers gain’ principle with your network of contacts, you will develop an amazing resource.
Here are four simple strategies that you can being adopting today in order to keep in contact with your network and be seen as giving back to your network.
1. Become genuinely interested in your contacts
Find out what they are interested in and when you see an article or anything relating to your contact’s interest, send them a copy of the article for their records with a very brief note.
For instance:
‘Hi George, knowing that you are a passionate boater, thought you may like to read a copy of the attached article. I’ve also included two complimentary tickets to May’s Boat Show – I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! Hope all is well!”
Best regards, Annemarie
2. Become known as the ‘go to’ person
Once you have established a large list of contacts with professionals, you can become known as the ‘go to’ person by sharing your resources and connecting people within your network to each other.
This way, if someone in your network is looking for a reputable accountant, rather than scouring the Yellow Pages they contact you as they know you would probably have someone you can recommend to them. And, if you don’t you could certainly reach out to your contacts and find someone.
3. Keep in contact
Send a card to your contacts on their birthday or other special occasion. Everyone loves to feel special and receiving acknowledgement from you on their birthday or on any other special occasion/event is a great way to continue building your relationship.
4. Send a ‘thank you’ card
Show your appreciation by sending a ‘thank you’ card to people who have helped or assisted you. Saying ‘thank you’ is such a nice gesture and again, is a great way to continue strengthening your relationship.
Remember, building and nurturing your network of contacts is something you should be doing continuously – not just when you are seeking to change careers. So, what steps are you going to implement to start building your network today?
Did you find this article useful? Pop across to the Career Communiqué blog to share your comments and success story.
For any further information please feel free to contact me at: annemarie@annemariecross.com.
To your success!
Annemarie |
A personal note from Annemarie...
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Here’s a photo of me and a few of the members of a professional business network group (of which I am a member) that meets each and every Tuesday throughout the year. Starting from the left: Kayleen Redman – Accountant; John Lynch – Personal Risk Insurance; yours truly – Annemarie Cross; and Claudia Silk – Travel Agent. 
