Social Networking Skills

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Since approximately 75 - 80% of all jobs are found through networking and at least 50% of all positions are never advertised, networking isn’t something you can afford to ignore in your job search.

But, the whole process is more effective (and more comfortable) if you start out knowing that you are as prepared as it is possible to be. So, here are the things that go into your Networking Tool Kit.

Your Business Cards

You need a business card whether you are employed or not. Include accurate and current contact information - numbers and email address that you can actually be reached at. And, please, not a number with a cutesy email message or one that a child is likely to answer.

If you are not currently employed, include your name, physical address (post office boxes look strange), phone numbers and email. If you are comfortable with including what you do under your name, that is appropriate. But, only if you are comfortable with it. If you have a professional certification like CPA, SPHR, PMP, etc. that can go immediately after your name.

This doesn’t need to be an expensive proposition. You can get 500 cards from a local quick print shop or big box office supply store for less than $50. And, most of these places have standard formats that you can use. Just make sure it’s businesslike since some of their options aren’t.

Your Networking List

Since networking is a two-way street, you need a list of people whose work you respect to whom you can refer others. This might include everything from a good accountant, attorney or financial planner to a good roofer or barber. I don’t know of a woman on the planet who got her hairdresser from the yellow pages and I sure go to my network when my car needs to be fixed.

A Tracking System

You need a tracking system that works for you and includes, at a minimum:

Name
Address
Phone, cell phone, fax, and email
Date of last contact
Date of next contact
How you know the person (personal friend, met at this meeting, referred by, etc.)
Who they have referred you to
Notes

Proper Attire

Wear a suit with pockets. This is especially important for women (when have you seen a man’s suit without pockets?). And it does need to be a suit because dresses are perceived as support staff apparel. Again for women, a skirt suit for a formal occasion and a pants suit or slacks and blazer for business casual.

Why the pockets you ask? You want to carry your business cards in one and other people’s cards along with a small pen in the other. You want to make notes on the cards so you don’t end up at home with business cards of people you can’t remember.

With your permission, I’d like to offer you a free Networking Smarts Assessment Tool. You can download it by going to http://www.acatalystinyoursuccess.com/Career_Net_Working_A_Room.html

If you would like to hear more about resumes and the other tools you need to conduct a successful job search visit http://www.acatalystinyoursuccess.com/Career_Home_Page.html

From Jane Trevaskis and Success-Catalyst.com.

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