Networking Rules OK!

Career Change or Career Management, Networking is a Must...

Networking Rules are all very well, you say, but what if I don't know the right people or I'm not really sure yet what I want to do?

Alright before you get tied up with the rules, think about this. The job you want will be determined by the skill analysis exercises you already did and by your interests.

So start with your interest areas - what jobs include your interests and your skills. Lets say you're passionate about horses, but your skill set is in financial management. Why not see if you could combine these two into a fulfilling occupation.

To find out if it's possible you need to speak to people who may know.

But I already said I don't know anyone!!

In that case you must approach it as a different kind of project. What if you thought of yourself as a journalist writing a story about the workings of horse breeders or stud farms. You would need to identify people who are involved: feed suppliers, farm managers, the owners and breeders; even people who just ride for pleasure.

AS A JOURNALIST WRITING A PIECE YOU WOULD NOT THINK TWICE ABOUT CONTACTING THEM.

When you make contact you are not looking for a job or even going to be talking about yourself - ONLY your interest.

If the journalistic angle is difficult, why not consider yourself as an academic writing a thesis?

1. Gather the information
2. Sort and re-order what you know
3. Draw your conclusions

Armed with your information, you can decide who then to approach to discuss your proposals which are drawn from your information gathering. Don't forget you've already met these people so now you do know who to contact; you also know how things work from several perspectives, so you can put forward a case to use your skill in the area that most interests you.

Networking Rules are no more than the strongest possible guidelines for your effective use of this most important of all job searching skills. In just a few lines I'm going to give you the basic rules:

1. Recognise your very own individual value, contribution and power. If you can’t, or won’t, nobody else will either.
2. Get to know at least three people more senior than you within your profession who will be able to give you advice and professional input.
3. One of the most fundamental networking rules is to keep in contact with people regularly rather than only when you want something.
4. Make the effort to meet people in person rather than just talking to them on the phone, or e-mailing them.
Plan your network meeting.

5. Show you are interested in them as a person, rather than just an opportunity for you to advance yourself.
6. When you hear about a contact's accomplishments write to formally congratulate them.
7. When networking make sure you ‘bring something to the party’ rather than expecting one-way traffic.
8. Never expect anything other than information and advice, or new contacts to meet.
9. After meeting each new contact, ask for feedback on their first impression of you.
10. Be generous in your thanks to people who do help you, this is one of the most important networking rules.
11. Do your best to develop a good memory for people's names and conversations you have with them.
12. Don’t only bother with those senior to you, other people have unique knowledge and their own contacts.
13. Build a long-list of all your contacts.
How do I build my network list?

14. Make sure you respond with information and advice when others contact you.
15. Networking is for life not just for a new job. Keep working on it and it will work for you.

These networking rules will become second nature as you set out to network with and on behalf of other people. If you are sincere in your dealings with them you will find you have an army of people who are behind you!

An alternative view on networking for jobs is called Informational Interviewing - follow the link to find out more.

Go back to Networking.

Return from networking rules to network approach.

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