Networking
Networking
There are many ways to network – such as on LinkedIn or by attending in-person events – you can pick and choose the method that works best for your needs and personality. Once you build a resume and cover letter, you are ready to begin creating a plan to connect with the right people.
Networking requires preparation. There’s more to it than just hoping you get lucky enough to bump into someone who can refer you to an open position.
In order to find professional success through networking, you need to impress people and make it easy for them to remember and help you. In order to do that, you should be able to anticipate where these key contacts (and their contacts) will be and how they can research you.
Before picking from the networking strategies below, take the time to complete the following tasks:
- Prepare a 20-30 second elevator pitch about yourself
- Make personal business cards to hand out at events
- Google yourself and review what you find. Where necessary, update your social media and professional profiles so that they are current and ready to be circulated
What’s the best way to ask people in my network for an informational interview without making it sound like I need a favour? Find out the answer here.
Below is a list of key areas to utilise networking strategies
Your Network
As it’s often said, landing a new job is about who you know, so if you connect with key players in your industry, you’re likely to be closer to your ideal role. Networking isn’t a new phenomenon but the ability to connect with people online does make the process easier to manage. Remember that, even if you’re doing your job search with social media, online networking shouldn’t replace traditional face-to-face interactions and keep it professional just as you would in person. Whether it’s online networking or face to face at a network event, it isn’t just about selling yourself; it’s also about building connections, learning, seeing opportunities, mentoring and helping others.
Networking can make people feel nervous or anxious, but it is a skill that can be developed just like any other skill. Here are some tips to help improve your networking skills:
Be prepared
When attending networking events take some time to prepare your pitch, practise how you will introduceyourself and engage with your network, take your business cards along and attend with a goal.
Engage
Make full use of your time at a network event. Engage in conversation, listen to what people have to say and react and respond in an enthusiastic and positive way. Ask questions and really gain an understanding of the industry and those you are engaging with.
Research
It really helps to research an event; venue, attendees, speakers. This way you will have a better understanding of who will be there and why and how this will be of benefit to you and identify who you wish to introduce yourself to.
Don't be afraid to go alone and don't stick to people you know
It can feel daunting attending a network event and we can find that we seek out those we know or if attending with work colleagues will huddle together. But you may be missing out on opportunities to meet others, so try and build up the courage to break away and say hello to others.
Connect on Social Media
Social Media is a great way to connect with people you have met after an event. LinkedIn and Twitter are a great way to send a personal message so people will remember who you are, but also to check in and engage in conversation prior and during an event.
Stay in touch
Once you’ve developed your network, be sure to take the time to stay in touch. There are several things you can do to stay engages with your network, share articles or podcasts, make some introductions via LinkedIn or meet for a coffee.
Take a look at Seek’s guide to networking for more tips: Read more here
Alumni
Universities often hold events for their alumni – there may be general events, such as, a drinks evening or it may be more specific to target certain interests, such as, an industry talks or a sports event. You can network at these events and it’s very likely someone else will be doing the same. Events based on interests are especially useful for networking with similar others as it will be easier for you to form connections. Check out these tips on how to make the most of your next alumni networking event.
Recruiters
Some people may have pre-conceived ideas about agencies that are often negative. This may well be based on personal experience but like anything there are good ones and bad ones and you should do your homework on which Agency specialises in the type of roles you are looking for, there are some very good ones out there that really do deliver job seekers good advice and support.
As a candidate, there are some great benefits to working with an Agency for either permanent or temporary employment. Some businesses only deal with agencies, so by registering with them you may have access to jobs that you might not otherwise.
The time and effort it can take to find a job can be an overwhelming experience and process, especially when you’ve been searching for a few months and haven’t had any breakthroughs. But what if someone else could manage this on your behalf? This is where recruitment agencies play an important role.
There are many reasons why those searching for jobs apply through a recruitment agency, but the main reason is because they can tap into the wealth of experience recruitment agencies have from working with companies across different industries and sectors. Lots of job-seekers choose to look for jobs on their own but few know how to tap into the expertise and network of recruitment agencies who are essentially the conduit for bringing together the best employers and brightest candidates.
The role of a recruitment agency revolves around working with employers and job seekers to facilitate a successful job match. In short, recruitment agencies can be your key to unlocking great job opportunities.
Most recruiters are open to connecting via LinkedIn or through word of mouth recommendations. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them as they are constantly seeking out potential candidates.
Check out these additional resources
Working with a recruiter? Here are 6 things you need to know
If you’re on the hunt for work, there’s a good chance you’ve been in contact with a recruiter. Given they are ideally placed to help find you work and improve your job seeking skills, it pays to understand what they do, and how they do it. Read more
Job Fairs
Like networking events, attending a job fair or career expo can feel overwhelming, but with some practice, research and preparation, attending could provide you with some great opportunities. With the chance to discuss your career goals and job search plans with a range of organisations, including employers and training providers, job fairs are a great way to learn more about your chosen industry, routes and options for career development or potential job opportunities.
Check out these additional resources
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is a great place to research and locate relevant job fairs and expos in your area. Read more
Make the most of jobs fairs and jobs expos | Job Jumpstart
Attending a jobs fair or career expo can be overwhelming. They can be busy and noisy and you may not know where to start when you get there. However, these events can be a valuable opportunity to speak to a range of organisations including employers, training providers and other relevant services about your career goals and job search plans. Read more
Networking Groups
Volunteer
Volunteering gives you a chance to mingle with like-minded people in a feel-good environment. Volunteering is also a great opportunity to develop and demonstrate new skills. Plus, there are so many valuable opportunities to choose from, from one-off events to ongoing activities at local organisations.
- Go Volunteer
- SEEK Volunteer
- Volunteering New South Wales
- Volunteering Queensland
- Volunteering South Australia and Northern Territory
- Volunteering Tasmania
- Volunteering Victoria
- Volunteering Western Australia
Diversity Groups
Groups based on diversity, such as gender, race, culture, for example the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, understand the importance of networking and frequently include this at their events. Also sharing the same background with the people you speak to makes it easier to find similarities and build trust – this is part of ethos, the ethical appeal, where listeners are more likely to be convinced by someone they can relate to.
Religious groups
Being part of a religious group means that you share similar beliefs with a large community of people. You can engage in casual networking at any of their events as you’re all more likely to share the same opinions, trust each other and want to help one another.
Local sports club/exercise
Exercise is not only beneficial for forming social connections – it can also help with business connections. It doesn’t matter whether you participate in a team sport or an individual sport, there’s always a chance to strike up a conversation with a fellow athlete. Strong rapports can quickly be built by suffering together and comradeship, such as, going on a parkrun.
Other supports
Employment Facilitators
Employment Facilitators are an on-the-ground presence that work with retrenched workers and other job seekers in specific regions to connect them with training, job opportunities and to link them with other existing support. Employment Facilitators are engaged to facilitate government initiatives but can also be engaged in exceptional circumstances after careful assessment on a case-by-case basis. https://www.employment.gov.au/employment-facilitators
What's Next?
What’s Next? helps you decide what to do if you have been retrenched or are looking for a new career. There is help for finding a job, getting some training and looking after yourself. https://whatsnext.dese.gov.au/
Target Companies
You can contact employers who you are interested in working for directly. Ask if they have any jobs available – you can do this via phone, email or in person.
It’s a good idea to do some research first so you know about the business and the jobs that may interest you. Prepare your “sales pitch” – what you are going to say about yourself and why you want to work for them.
Make sure you speak with the right person. For larger companies, this will be someone in the Recruitment/Talent Acquisition Department. For smaller businesses, it might be a manager or the owner. If in doubt, ask to speak to the person who looks after recruitment.
Choose the best time to call or drop into a workplace. If mornings are their busy time, try later in the day. Be prepared if the owner/manager is too busy to talk. Ask when would be a better time to contact them.
Stay positive but be realistic. Not all employers will be interested in what you have to offer. Try not to take rejection personally and take away as much information from the experience as you can. For example, does the employer prefer to use labour hire companies to fill vacancies? If so, find out who they are.
By email
If you decide to contact a business by email, make sure your email address is professional and includes your name. The content of your email needs to be polite and use appropriate titles such as Mr, Mrs or Dr. It should be concise and explain what type of role you are looking for, and why you would be suitable. Attach a clear, short résumé. For more information on résumés.
By phone
It may be useful to write down what you want to say before you ring an employer. Make the call from a quiet place free of distractions and background noise. Take care to be polite with everyone you speak to, talk clearly and with confidence. Remember: contacting employers by phone or in-person could turn into an on-the-spot interview if it turns out they have a vacancy, so be ready to answer interview-style questions confidently.
In person
Dress well – first impressions count. Think carefully about whether a suit or smart casual would be more appropriate.
Take copies of your résumé with you so you can leave a copy with them. Remember: contacting employers by phone or in-person could turn into an on-the-spot interview if it turns out they have a vacancy, so be ready to answer interview-style questions confidently.
Associations
Community service groups, such as the local rotary club, require volunteers for their events and activities. By volunteering you will interact with many people, including business owners and other professionals in your area. People will want to network with you because you’re showing everyone that you care about your community and not just yourself – it’s making you and your profile more visible. But ensure that you do want to genuinely help.
Business networking & events
Business networking opportunities are broad and continually changing, from small events to industry-wide conferences. They are an inexpensive way to introduce yourself to the local business community.
The hardest part about networking is getting started but once you begin, you’ll start seeing the same people at events and you’ll receive invitations to more events. Before long, your network will be quickly growing, and you’ll have a group of people who can help you reach your goals.
If there’s a Chamber of Commerce in your area, there’s a good chance you’ll also have a business network you can join. These groups tend to meet regularly, which makes it easy to make connections. This is one of those networking strategies that people tend to overlook because such networks are often aimed at business owners and limited to paid members. However, like with local meetups, one way to get in for free is to offer to be an expert guest speaker.
LinkedIn networking
With LinkedIn, you can network anytime and anywhere from the convenience of your laptop or mobile phone. LinkedIn has more than 467 million users and it’s changed the way we network. On this professional platform, you can apply for jobs and connect with people in your industry as well as former co-workers. But the main reason LinkedIn is such an awesome place for networking is the ability to connect with the biggest names in your industry that you would’ve never had the chance of meeting in person before.
So how do you network on LinkedIn and develop relationships that can skyrocket your career? Check out these tips for how to network on LinkedIn like a pro.