Networking

Networking is making connections with people, then building and maintaining good relationships. It's an effective way to get information that could lead to work and to develop your career.

What is networking?
Who's in your network?
Networking for work
Good networking tips

What is networking?

Have you ever asked a friend for information about something? Have you invited someone out for lunch or a coffee? Have you ever helped out a friend? If you have, then you already know how to network.

Networking is about making connections with people, then building and maintaining these relationships. You already have a network of family and friends, and so you already have skills in networking. Each person in your network can also draw upon their own network of personal and professional relationships.

Who's in your network?

Your existing network might include the following people:

• relatives
• friends
• friends of relatives
• friends of friends
• fellow students
• lecturers
• current employers
• past employers
• fellow workers
• professional associations
• extra-curricular associates and so on

Who else is in your network? As you start to make use of your network, it will develop and expand to include more people.

Networking for work

When you're looking for work, you need to draw on the people in your network in a more conscious and systematic way.

You might find that some people in your existing network have useful advice or information for you while you're looking for a job. Or they might lead you to someone in their network who can help you. Be clear about the information you are looking for, so that your contacts can help you or refer you on to someone else.

It's a good idea to record the name of each contact and the information they have given you, as you network. This will help you to organise and make the best use of the large amounts of information you are collecting. More importantly, it will allow you to thank your contacts for helping you along your career path.

Good networking tips

Networking is a two-way process. Be prepared to help others in the same way that you would like to be helped. Show your appreciation for those who have helped you. Saying thank you is one of the best ways of maintaining good relationships and an effective network.

And finally, don't be shy about networking. You're not being 'pushy' by talking to people about what you hope to do with your career. Most people network, and they do it for many different reasons. They will understand that you're simply trying to give yourself and your career the best possible chance for success.