Networking

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Networking

• Chris Hughes

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How people find jobs
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Can we create our own luck?

• Richard Wisemans research on lucky people
• They listen to their intuition
• They expect good fortune (i.e. theyre positive)
• They have a knack of turning bad luck into good
  (i.e. turning a negative into a positive), and
  they
• Maximise their chance opportunities by networking

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Everyone knows someone who knows someone

• Lets put it to the test!

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What is networking?

• A way of asking for help
• - information and advice
• - a way of developing further contacts
• A way of finding out about hidden or poorly
  advertised jobs and work experience
• A way of multiplying your chances of finding any
  opportunity x6, x7, x8 whatever no. of people
  are keeping an ear to the ground for you.

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What is networking?

• Networking is not
• About using the old boy network to get a job
• A quick way to lose friends by putting them in
  the embarrassing situation of having to say no
• Something only well connected people can do

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Barriers to networking

• I have no contacts
• I know they would say no
• I want to get a job on my own merits
• Employers hate being approached
• Im too shy
• I dont want to admit Im job hunting/desperate!
• Im interested in graduate schemes, with formal
  routes in, so networkings not necessary

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Networking

• Ultimately networking is about
• Being proactive
• Searching out vacancies and opportunities via
  contacts
• Making referred but speculative applications
• with the aim of
• Getting on a shortlist

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Networking step 1

• Target contacts in
• The career area you want
• The type of employer you want
• Avoid HR departments unless you are interested in
  working in HR
• Try to move your network to more senior staff.
  Ask contacts if they can put you in touch with
  someone who might be able to help you further.

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How do you network?

• Talk to people at events, careers fairs etc.
• Take an interest in friends parents, parents
  friends etc.
• Lecturers, graduates, visiting speakers
• Student societies
• Work experience, placements etc.
• Through a project e.g. a dissertation
• Professional associations
• You could start up your own networking group
• Everyone you stumble across

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Online networking

• Facebook good for social networking
• LinkedIn
• Twitter (used widely by media, PR and technology
  professionals)
• Identify professionals who have a strong online
  presence i.e. their own blog/website or who use
  Twitter these people are more likely to be
  interested in networking. Comment on their blog
  and start engaging with them.

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Organisation websites

• A good way of researching professional people who
  you might approach by letter or email
• Choose someone at the right level too high or
  too low and they may be removed from recruitment
• Before contacting someone, google their name to
  see what you can find out about them.

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Asking for a meeting step 2

• By phone for a close contact
• By letter and CV or email and CV for a cold
  contact consider following up with a phone
  call
• Do your research first
• Be clear about why you are approaching them

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Golden rules

• Ask for their help and advice
• Dont initially ask for a job dont put them
  under any pressure.

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Setting up a meeting what to write

• Mention the name of your referral
• Spell out what you want clearly and concisely
• Acknowledge their experience/expertise but dont
  be sycophantic
• Show some understanding of their business
• Stress that you want to arrange a meeting not
  an interview
• Include a CV
• Make sure your letter is professional, free of
  spelling or grammatical errors

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Follow-up call

• If you dont hear within a week to ten days,
  follow-
• up with a phone call. Rehearse what youre going
  
• to say
• Hello, my name is Jane Roberts. I wrote to you
• recently. Im a new graduate and interested in
• working as a television researcher. Id be very
• grateful for a little of your time so I can learn
  more
• about this area of work. Pause for response

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Setting up a meeting by phone or face-to-face
best if a warm contact.

• Im thinking of looking for a career move
• Id really appreciate your advice
• Im not expecting you find me a job, I just want
  to pick your brains!
• I think Id really benefit from 20 mins of your
  time
• Youre busy? Well how about early/late Thurs/Fri
  (you need to be flexible)
• Keep the discussion short and business like

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At the meeting step 3

• Show that youve prepared thoroughly
• Take control and remember your objectives
• Acknowledge their expertise seek the
  advice/info that you want
• Sell yourself
• Try to get at least 1 onward referral

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Aim of the meeting

• To get information
• The career
• Job market
• Sources of vacancies
• To get advice on
• Your chances
• Your CV
• To get contacts

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After the meeting step 4

• Always write a short thank you note
• Always follow-up any leads they give you
• Stay in touch you never know when you might need
  their help again or when they might need yours!

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Important! Stay safe.

• If you arrange to meet someone you dont
• know or dont know well
• First check out they are who they say they are
• Meet in a public place
• Tell someone where youre going and arrange to
  call them after your meeting
• Think carefully about sharing personal details
• Never give out key info such as National
  Insurance no., bank details etc.
• Note Some of the above also applies to online
• and telephone communication

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Networking example

• I felt a bit pathetic asking my flatmates
• mother for help, but I am really glad that I did
  because her contacts led to work experience and
  that led to the contacts that got me the job.
  She opened the door after that it was down to
  me.

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Networking

• - Try it. It works
• - Its hard at first
• - Its better than 50 rejections
• - Its excellent for interview practice
• - Dont forget one day youll be someones
• networking contact