Subscribe
Previous Post
There are some things in life that a girl has just gotta know. In Crushable‘s “101″ series, we’ll give you step by step instructions on how to tackle everything from networking to plunging a toilet.
In the age of Facebook and Twitter, “networking” may seem like a no-brainer. But social networking and professional networking? Two totally different beasts. The line between the two may blur occasionally, but if you want to land your dream job, you’ll need to start thinking strategically. About seventy-five percent of jobs are landed through networking. Here is how to make the process work for you.
Network Up
Sure, your friends are brilliant and motivated and talented. A few of them may even run the world someday. But guess what? They don’t yet. You may feel more comfortable networking with your peers, but that really isn’t getting you anywhere. You want to network with people who can actually hire you, and that means shooting for people at least 5-10 years older than you. College and high school alumni are a great resource; most schools have databases that allow you to contact alums of all ages. Of course, maintaining relationships with your peers is still very important; eventually they will be in charge, and you want to know who to contact when that time comes.
Weave that Spider Web
Make a list of all the people you know who might have connections to your dream company or job. It doesn’t matter how distant these people are from Company X. Why? Because ultimately, it’s not who you know, it’s who they know. The idea is to exploit what some call the Spider Web Effect, weaving your network further and further out from the people you know. Eventually, you want to make a connection with someone who works in the exact industry or company you’ve always wanted to work for. This is where college and high school alumni can be useful, too. There’s a good chance someone from your alma mater already has your dream job or knows someone who does.
Be Specific
Once you lay your tractor beam on a contact of interest, be ready to articulate what you want. Even if you just want background information about the industry or company, make sure you can express your goals. Working people are busy; they don’t have a lot of time. If you start rambling, they’ll lose interest. Being as specific as possible will help them help you. Develop a concise explanation of what you want –- and an equally razor-sharp description of why you have so much to offer.
Dress the Part
When meeting a networking contact, here’s a little reminder: dress appropriately, ladies. You want to appear approachable, professional and composed. Random piercings and visible tattoos are usually a bad idea, unless the person you’re meeting with also has random piercings and visable tatoos. Let the industry culture be your guide.
Resume Ready
Don’t get caught off guard: if a networking contact asks you for a resume, you should either have one with you or be able to email a copy within a few hours after your meeting. You don’t want to scramble and send a shoddy resume or, just as bad, send a polished one three days later. Make sure your resume is always flawless and up-to-date.
Online Clean Up
More than ever, professionals are scouring online profiles before they extend a job offer or internship. Don’t let that crazy week in Cancun ruin your job prospects. By all means, have fun, but make sure you keep incriminating photos to yourself.
Now that you have the basics down, you’re ready for Networking 101: Part 2, or “How to Work a Room.” Stay tuned.
by Dana Bate
Dana Bate is a writer living in Washington, D.C. and working on her first novel. Until last September, she was an on-air reporter and producer for PBS. You can follow her on Twitter at @danabate
(Photo via flickr)
