Networks that Work
Using your network to find the jobs that never get advertised
In today's tight job market, job-hunters have to use a variety of techniques to find and get jobs. One of the most important of these is networking. It's a key to the hidden job market - jobs that are open but not advertised.
The Hidden Job Market
The hidden job market consists of all the jobs that never reach the want ads, job listings or employment agencies. These jobs come up for many reasons - someone is fired, retires or dies, a new business hires staff, a company merges or reorganizes, or an employer isn't exactly sure what positions are needed. The hidden job market offers virtually every type of position. Many employers don't need to advertise jobs, because the grapevine will do it for them. Many employers prefer not to advertise an opening. They would often rather hire people they know or have met. They find it easier to call on colleagues for advice. An applicant who comes with a recommendation from an employer's friend is half-way to getting the job even before the interview. How can you unlock this hidden job market? By networking, but it's not just a matter of calling everyone you know. Experts in employment counseling say building the right network and doing it properly can make a big difference in whether your job-hunt will be successful or not.
Building a Network
Networks are about relationships, developing rapport with people so that they become interested in you as a person and genuinely want to give you information and advice. Networking is a process of achieving your personal and professional goals through interaction with other people. Networks are built slowly, one conversation at a time. The trick to building the right kind of network is not to see how much you can take from it, but to ask yourself what can you contribute. There's a golden rule to networking. There must be mutual respect and interest among all members. It is important to network through-out your lifetime. You should never lose your network, but it needs to be developed and nurtured for all of your life. Even people with jobs today should be actively networking in case they're out of work in the future.
Nurturing Your Network
Nurturing a network is a combination of careful organization and thoughtfulness. Here are a couple suggestions on ways to make a network grow and develop.
Effective networking shouldn't be time-consuming. Only 30 minutes a week is necessary for nurturing a network. You can't accomplish your goals by yourself. You need other people. Networking is never purely selfless, but your genuine interest in others will have results.