How to network for a job
An investment in your future
Who are the two types of people you remember at networking events?
Well, your mileage may vary, but for me, two types stand out.
One will be the instant pitch networker.
A valid pitch if you happen to be in need right now of what they have to offer, or if mutual selling is your goal.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but it’s a selling activity pretending to be networking.
If you want to sell, go and overtly sell, rather than disguise it with subterfuge.
Lest we mark your face and avoid you where possible in future.
The second is the one who gets to know you, shows interest and tries to add to your experience. You share ideas, but there’s no push to buy something.
They believe that through building the relationship when you have a problem they can solve, you’ll think to go to them.
It’s a relationship built on reciprocity. One where if you always build something together, there’s good mutual reason to keep in touch.
And where the outcome is what you need, if the right elements come together:
right person, right time, right message, right place, right offering, right price
Jobsearch networking is no different.
The purpose of networking in a job search is to build a network where you are seen as a go-to solution should a suitable problem come up.
In this case the problem you solve is a vacancy.
Either because your active network is recruiting, or because they advocate for you when someone they know is recruiting.
It is always a two-way conversation you both benefit from. Knowledge sharing, sounding board, see how you’re doing - catch up because of what the relationship brings to you both.
It is not contacting someone to ask for a job or a recommendation. A one-way conversation, that relies on lucky timing.
Don’t get me wrong, that second approach can be effective, but it’s more direct sales than networking.
And if you get it wrong, it may even work against you. How would you feel if someone wanted to network with you, when it became clear they actually wanted something specific from you?
Why wouldn’t they instead cut to the chase and ask directly?
You MIGHT get very lucky and network with someone who is recruiting now, but the likelihood is you nurture that relationship over time.
But if your goal is only to ask for help, each networking opportunity will have a low chance of success.
While if your goal is to nurture a relationship, which may produce a good lead, you’ll only have constructive outcomes.
This makes it sensible to start by building a network with people that already know you:
- former direct colleagues and company colleagues
- industry leaders and peers
- recruiters you have employed or applied through
These are a priority because they know you, your capability and your approach, and trust has already been built.
Whereas networking with people you don't know requires helping them come to know and trust you.
Networking with people you know is the most overlooked tactic by the exec job seekers I talk to (followed by personal branding). These are the same people who see the 'hidden jobs' market as where their next role is, yet miss simplicity for the sake of ambiguity.
If you are looking for a new role on the QT - networking is a go-to approach, which invites proactive contact to you.
Networking with people who know people you know, networking with people in a similar sphere, then networking with people outside of this sphere - these are networks in decreasing order of priority.
Always go for the low-hanging fruit first.
Let's not forget the other type of networking, if you are unemployed. Talking to fellow job seekers is a great way to share your pain, take a load off your shoulders, bounce ideas off each other, and hold each other accountable.
I call this the Board of Directors for your job search, and it can be a great aid.
Of course, LinkedIn is the perfect platform to find the right people if you haven't kept in touch already.
But it's a conduit to, not the means of, a conversation. Speaking in real life is where networking is at because while you might build a facsimile of a relationship in text, it's no replacement for a fluid conversation.
And not just LinkedIn - business events, seminars, conferences, and so on are all places are the perfect places for proper networking.
Don't think about networking as 'what can I get out of it?'
Think of it as ‘what’s in it for them?’
The difference is the same as those ransom list job adverts, compared to the rare one that speaks to you personally.
Consider ‘how can I build on this relationship’ in how you keep in touch.
Networking is systematic, periodic and iterative:
Map out your real life career network. Think about anyone you’ve ever worked with and where.
Find them on LinkedIn
Get in touch “I was thinking about our time at xxx. Perhaps we could reconnect - would be great to catch up”
If they don’t reply, because life can be busy, diarise a follow up for a few weeks time
Think about the things that may interest them - an interesting LinkedIn post might be a reason to catch up
When you look up your network’s profile, look at the companies they’ve worked at. They worked there for a reason, which may be because of a common capability to you.
Research these companies. Are there anyone in relevant roles worth introducing yourself to? Maybe the company looks a good fit with your aspirations - worth getting in touch with someone who may be a hiring manager, proactively?
Maybe they aren’t recruiting now, but someone to keep in touch with because of mutual interests
Keep iterating your network, finding new companies as you look at new contacts. This is one way we map the market in recruitment to headhunt candidates - you can mirror this with your networking
Like many things, good is often better than perfect, because the chase of perfection can prevent us from action.
The more proactive networking you build into your job search, the more lucky you might get.
While you might need to nurture a sizeable network, and there are no guarantees, think about the other virtues of networking - how does that compare to endless unreplied applications on job boards?
It’s no guarantee of getting a job, yet time and time again I hear from job seekers who found their next role through networking.
Including those who got the job because of their network, even though hundreds of applicants were vying for it too. That may be unfair on the applicants, but sometimes you can make unfair work for you.
And it can be effective at any level. More so at a senior level where fewer vacancies are advertised, but even at the other end of the spectrum, a great recommendation from a contact is worth its weight in gold.
How can you network so that you become that recommendation?
In a tough job search, as part of a ‘multichannel’ campaign, with appropriate use of job boards, personal branding, doorknocking and other avenues appropriate to your circumstance - networking is vital.
Thanks for reading.
Regards,
Greg