How Networking Can Get You Your Dream Job - CareerAlley

How Networking Can Get You Your Dream Job - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work. Robert Kiyosaki Networking in todays business world is vital if you want to get ahead in your chosen career. This may be a necessary evil for some as it does not come naturally to us all. It is about getting out there, building relationships and being on the radar in your industry sector. Good networking skills can help you get your dream job or move up the career ladder faster than you expected. It may not be fair, but in life getting ahead is often about knowing the right people, building a good relationship with them and of course maintaining it over the long term. A portfolio of good contacts may not be immediately beneficial to you but if you have put in the work and built on those relationships, then eventually they may be in a position to help you meet the right people to get that dream job. Join a Group Get started by joining a networking group. There are different kinds, such as casual ones through which you can attend networking events and online networks which have become more and more prevalent in recent years LinkedIn is a good example. For very industry-specific networking, which can often be very niche, for example the world of offshore wind jobs and recruitment, you should try knowledge networks of professional bodies and specific contact networks that meet solely for the purpose of building professional relationships. You should build up networks with a variety of people, including former and current colleagues, professional bodies, old teachers, lecturers and classmates. Dont forget your friends and family you never know who they might have contact with. Successful networking does not happen overnight. You need time to build a relationship and become someone they might instantly think of as the right person should an appropriate job come up. This takes patience, practice (particularly if you are shy or introverted) and preferably the potential for a mutually beneficial relationship. You cannot expect a favour from someone you have just met. They will need to feel confident in recommending you to a friend or colleague. Maintain your Contacts Once you have landed that dream job, dont just drop your contacts. First of all, thats rude and very transparent that you were using someone. You need to maintain your networking relationships, as they could be mutually beneficial to you again in the future. Dont forget to thank someone who has helped you, arrange occasional meetings to touch base or forward them some useful information or leads you might have access to. Sometimes it can be difficult to stay in touch with everyone in your network as people lead busy lives and move around a lot more than they used to. Dont forget to let people know if you have relocated or moved jobs. This is where online networking can be very useful but dont forget the value of a phone call or face-to-face meeting. People tend to respond better with real as opposed to virtual contact and this will help you remain in their memory too. This guest post was written by Francesca, a freelance writer based in the UK, who enjoys sharing her knowledge on a variety of subjects, from careers and business to health and fitness. She currently writes on behalf of En-spiral. Make sure you Tweet @Franki_blogs or @CareerAlley to share your thoughts on this piece. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search.Visit me on Facebook