5 Tips for using your Network to unlock Job Opportunities

Unless you are a sales superstar, the thought of networking for a new job is probably daunting. Putting yourself out there and initiating conversations with strangers isn’t natural for most of us, but getting to know new people can be a rewarding experience – especially if it helps you to land a role that’s perfect for you.

These five tips will help you to make the most of your networking when you are looking for a new opportunity:

1. Figure out what you want before you start networking. You need to identify what you want from your career and put together a plan to get there. What is your dream job and how are you going to get there? What are your next steps in your professional career development? Which companies would you love to work for? When you’ve got all of this in place, you’ll be able to talk about the reasons you are open to new job opportunities.
2. Attend professional events (virtually). Ask your colleagues which virtual conferences, webinars and professional memberships they have used to successfully grow their networks. What worked for them can also work for you.
3. Work on your social media accounts. Do your social media pages do you justice? Spend some time updating your LinkedIn profile and adding people you know to your Connections. Identify and join the right LinkedIn professional groups that may be helpful in your job search.
4. Keep an open mind. Networking isn’t about using other people and aggressively promoting yourself so get to know a new person first before you blurt out your appeal for help. When you meet someone with more experience, talk to them about your professional frustrations and learn from them. Everyone you meet can help you move your job search forward.
5. Take notes on the people in your network. You connect with people when there is  mutual interest or a shared experience but unless you have a photographic memory, you’ll probably will not retain much of this information. By making notes about the key points of each conversation, when you next interact you will be able to recall previous exchanges, allowing you to not only rapidly reestablish rapour but also to make the most of the current interaction.

Whether you are in the job market or not, remember that successful networking is a two-way street. Your ultimate goal is to develop mutually beneficial relationships which means giving when you can as well as receiving when you need it. By nurturing relationships through your job search and beyond, you’ll create a robust network of people you can count on for ideas, advice, feedback and support throughout your career.

If you want to change your career or you have recently been retrenched, why not take me up on an obligation free 20-minute online career coaching session? It may just unlock opportunities you hadn’t even considered. Email me at noelene@execulinked.co.za and book your session today.  

Do you want to own the job market? Are you tired of getting no response from recruitment agencies or company HR teams? Do you want to take control of your job search? Then you need the Execulinked Career Transition Programme. A combination of one-on-one coaching and a unique, practical guide, this programme will give you crucial insight into the latest recruitment processes as well as the skills to land your perfect job.