Finding a job is all about making connections. Once you know the right people, opportunities will open up for you. The challenge for most people is getting started. When trying to get a job, there are two important types of connections you need to make; personal and professional connections. Below, we will look at job networking tips that will help you make these connections and land your dream job easily.

Most People Already Know How to Network

One of the biggest reasons most people are afraid to network is because they do not want to seem pushy or needy. While this can be a major setback, there are ways to learn how to be assertive without coming off as pushy or needy. Being assertive in this way means that you have to put yourself out there in ways that encourage relationship building and making connections with other people. These may be people you already know or people who are new to you.

Networking is as simple as getting to know people authentically.

We are all almost always networking. When we talk to someone on the subway or even in line at a store, that can be a way of networking. Networking is also about helping people. You want to come off as a solutions provider rather than someone who wants something from someone else, be it a job or help with something.

1. Start with People You Already Know

Almost all of us know more people than we think we do. It is all these people that you need to get in touch with to let them know that you are looking for a job. When you do, there is a good chance that one of them will have an opening for you.

The best place to start is by making a list of everyone in your circles. These include family members, co-workers, colleagues, friends, and even neighbors. Going through your social media account can also be a good way to find out who is in your network, even if you may have forgotten about them.

You can also list people you went to school with or people you have worked with in the past. Also, do not forget to list people who you have met through others. They may be direct connections but they can also become part of your network.

If you are considering a MBA don’t forget about the people you might meet at events like The MBA Tour. The MBA Tour hosts over 70 events every year and is a good place to meet people from different business schools. The events are hosted across 6 continents and connects candidates with business schools from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. When you attend one, there is a chance a great chance in meeting people at the event who can become part of your future network.

2. Reach Out

No matter how many people are on the list you have made above, they will not help you get a job if you do not reach out to them and explain your situation. Once you have the list above, the next step is getting in touch with all these people. Be specific about the job you are looking for and ask them politely if they know of such opportunities. They will either point you to the opportunities or to someone else who is in the same field as you. Do not single out people who you think will not help you; you might be surprised at the lengths people will go to in order to help someone in need.

When reaching out, it is important to know exactly what you need. Know your goals and employer targets before you reach out. People are less likely to help you out if you put out a generic request. Even though you may think that you are opening yourself up to a lot more opportunities, people are less likely to help unless they know exactly what you need.

Asking for specific information about jobs, employers and open positions is a much better way of going about this.

When reaching out, it is important to start with people who are closest to you and people you have been referred to by people you know personally. These are the people who are most likely to endorse you to a prospective employer thereby increasing your chances of getting hired.

3. Build Relationships

Networking is a give-and-take process. You do not want to always be on the receiving end of help. Share any information you have that might be useful to the people you reach out to. Remember that networking is a way of reaching out and not a way of gaining favor with people.

When building these relationships, it pays to be authentic. People will know if you are not being yourself. Hiding your intentions and true interest and goals will hurt you more than it will help.

Another thing to remember is to always be considerate of other people’s feelings. Try to catch up with others and find out how they are doing before asking for leads or a favor. If the person is busy, try to get to the point a lot quicker so they do not feel you are wasting their time.

Remember to ask for advice and not for a job. A request for a job might put a lot of pressure on the other party and they may feel ambushed if you come straight out and ask for a job. When you ask for advice, the people who can help will, and the ones who cannot will not feel like they let you down.

4. Always Evaluate Your Network

If you find that you are not getting the results you need, you might have to have a hard look at your network and assess its quality. Try to think of the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities it has presented to you. Doing this will help you better align your network with your goals and needs. Doing this assessment will also show you areas where your network is holding you back.

5. Use Both Strong and Weak Connections

Strong ties are the people who are in your inner circle and your weak ties are the people who are not.

Expanding your network is time-consuming and might take a lot of time to find people who can be in your inner circle. Adding new people, people who form weak connections is a good way to expand your network without expending too much energy or spending too much time on the exercise. Also, new connections give you the ability to see things from a different angle and might give you new ideas.

When expanding your network, try to tap into your strong connections as much as possible. These are the people who are likely to help you add more people to your connections. Remember to always keep in touch and reconnect with people you may not have talked to in some time.

Remember to also make making connections a habit. Try to forge authentic connections wherever you go and when it is appropriate to do so. Routinely making connections also helps improve your confidence – something you need if you want to have a successful career.

Making connections is important no matter how hard or intimidating it might be for you. Just remember to be confident, be straightforward and authentic.

© New To HR