Networking: Using your contacts to help you find work

Employers like having people recommended to them for a position or company in general for two reasons, recruitment costs are low and they feel they are employing someone whom they know more about by getting a referral from a trusted colleague.

These two factors are advantageous at interview stage when competing against other candidates.

Using your network of contacts to gain work in a specific industry If your skill set and experience is for a particular industry it can be well worth developing a list of these contacts as they are obviously the people most likely to help you find you work within that industry.

• Develop a list of contacts that work within your industry or supply to your industry and if relevant those contacts you studied with.
• Try and keep the list updated including both their personal and work emails, a little information about the person that includes the role they were in, family information and telephone contacts.
• Make a conscious effort to contact them yearly, Christmas being the logical time to send a personal email or make a call.
• The best way of contacting industry contacts is with a personal phone call or email, let them know you are looking for work and ask if they know of any possible opportunities either where they are presently working or with any contacts they may know. Ask them whether you can send them your CV, thank them and follow up if you have not heard from them within 4-5 days.
• Handy tip: if not in employment get business cards printed up. You can look at attending exhibitions/events targeting the industry you want to work in. For example: Marketing Week where around 400 marketing businesses have stands. You can network by introducing yourself to them and handing them you card. Make them aware you are looking for work. You can also start a conversation with people you are introduced to by handing them your business card and never know where that conversation may lead.

Using your network of contacts to gain work across any industry

• If you have a generic skill set suitable for most industries (e.g. PA/Secretary, account assistant, receptionist, customer service etc.) than contacting people as a group is probably the most effective way to use your network. This can either be done by updating your status on network websites such as Facebook and Twitter or sending a group email including CV if comfortable in doing so.
• Personally contact those friends and associates who work in companies and businesses that you feel you would enjoy working. Using your network of contacts to facilitate a career change
• One of the best ways to change careers is to gain a role through word of mouth. Once you know which career paths you could be interested in, approach friends personally to ask them about the industry and what you would need to do to forge a career within the industry. For further feedback ask them whether you can send them your CV to get their opinion of what strengths they feel could be worth selling. This will help plant the seed in their head and hopefully make them more active in helping you.

Networking with the Internet Networking websites such as Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook have made life a lot easier to network with people.

• Be conscious of the image you portray especially on social sites such as Facebook and Twitter as some important contacts you have can change their opinion on you seeing you in a different light.
• Use these websites to search for companies/association group pages to source other contacts in which you can find information and open up your network.
• Join any suitable groups as employers looking for a cheap way to recruit may advertise positions on these group boards.
• Check your industry for any community based websites that might be useful e.g. Coroflot for graphic design staff.
• Linkedin is a community site targeting professionals and businesses and is well worth spending time developing your profile and contacts.