Career Guide

What is networking?
 
 Networking is about using contacts to get information about jobs. 
 
Your network is made up of all the people you know. This includes:

- friends
- relatives
- professional people who know you, e.g your solicitor or accountant
- your work colleagues
- people you've worked with in the past
- people you know in professional bodies.

Your network of contacts can be a very large number of people, and it's really more than you might think. Because through the people you know, you can get to other people you don't know directly. For example, your friend will have his own network, and you can get information from those people through your friend.
 
 Many jobs these days are obtained through networking. So, when you're job-hunting, you need to spend some time each week on your networking.
 
 
 
 How to network
 
The main idea of networking is that it should be reciprocal - you get help from your contacts, and you help them in return.
 
 Networking won't be so beneficial for you if you simply 'use' your contacts when you need help. You should keep in touch with your contacts on a regular basis.
 
If you belong to a professional association, or an organisation for people who work in the same industry, try to attend meetings regularly to meet people and renew contacts.



Business networking

When you're starting up a business, there may be business networking meetings which you can attend in your area. A good place to start is your local Chamber of Commerce. You can find your local chamber at   
  
British Chambers of Commerce
 
Business Link (an organisation that promotes and helps new businesses) also holds regular networking meetings. Find your local Business Link office at:

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk

You can also call them on 08456 009 006.
 
  
 
Networking and job-hunting

Set aside some time each week when you're job-hunting to do some networking.

Call, email or write to your contacts, and make sure they know that you are looking for work, and ask them if they know of any jobs that are available.

When you've found a new job, make sure you get back in touch with your contacts and tell them about your success, and let them have your updated contact details. 
 
If a contact has been particularly helpful to you in finding your new job, make sure you thank them and they know their efforts are appreciated.



Informational interviews
 
When you're trying to change careers, you may need information about the industry you're trying to get in to, or you may need advice about the job you want to do.

A good way to get information is by doing some informational interviews. The idea here is to contact someone who works in the field you're interested in, and ask them if you can meet them for about 20 minutes or so to ask them about their work. 
 
This not only gives you information, but it may lead to a job if the employer has one available and gets on well with you. But keep in touch with the people you interview, because they may have a job available at a later date.
 
 
 
 

Networking

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Before you can apply for jobs, you need to find job vacancies.
But m any jobs are never advertised because employers rely on job-seekers calling them or sending in their CVs, or ask their existing employees to find suitable job applicants.

Some employers only employ people they know through their contacts.

'Networking' can help you find jobs to apply for.

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