Networking - Recognising how to establish contacts and networking opportunities
Don't be afraid of networking! It is a straightforward concept - meeting people, and you do that all of the time in a variety of situations.
‘Networking’ is the ability to develop personal contacts in order to investigate career opportunities in specific occupations.
It is estimated that up to 80% of all job opportunities in the UK are never advertised. These opportunities are offered to individuals already known to the employer and to those who make speculative approaches. Effective networking ability can give you access to this huge ‘hidden market’ of jobs and make more effective career decisions.
Networking Aims
- Find out more about what working in a particular role or for a particular employer is really like. This can help you decide how suited you would be to a career in this area.
- Identify the skills and experience which employers in the field are looking for, helping you to identify areas where you need to boost your skills and helping you to market yourself.
- Understand typical career paths into and within the profession.
- Improve your understanding of the job role, working environment and issues faced by people in this occupation. This will help you in the application and interview process.
- Ensure that those who make hiring decisions are aware of your enthusiasm and commitment to enter the area.
- Find out at an early stage about actual job opportunities which may be coming up in your field.
- Showcase your talents, skills and enthusiasm so that your contacts may decide to create an opening for you in their organisation.
How to build your network while on placement
Starting an internship is a great place to begin building your professional network, it can support your future development. You never know, that person you met in the queue in the coffee shop could one day, be the person interviewing you for your dream role!
- Introduce yourself to everyone once and offer your assistance. This may sound daunting, but it’s a good way for people to know who you are and what you can do to help them.
- Look out for any social/sports events and sign up. It’s a great way to meet other people in the company.
- Be open, make eye contact with others, smile at people in the hallway, lift or in the kitchen and say hello.
- Arrange to go for a coffee with a person whose career you are interested in. Call/email them and ask to meet; people will be flattered that you are interested in them.
- And that’s important - be interested! Make sure you ask open-ended questions, and then listen attentively to their reply. An open-ended question needs more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. If you listen to their responses, people will warm to you.
- When you finish your placement, send an email/card or bring in cake to say thank you. Connect with them on LinkedIn and ask your manager for a recommendation if appropriate.
And don’t forget, the best way to network and get yourself known is to do a good job!
Before any networking interaction it is essential to spend some time planning some sensible and intelligent questions. In doing so you must take account of the person(s) you will be meeting and tailor your questions accordingly. The right questions, as outlined below, will help to reveal potential opportunities and help you learn from the experiences of others.
Below is a handout with Top Tips for Effective Networking.
Effective networkers respect:
- Time – don’t ask for too much, don’t overstay your welcome
- Offers to help – show gratitude, follow-up, don’t exploit your contact
- Confidentiality – don’t share/disclose without permission
- Professional courtesies – show thanks, affirm value of contact’s help
- Mutual help – share any useful information
- Keeping contacts updated – inform network of progress
Career related questions:
People typically feel honoured when asked to talk about their careers and advice on how to get on within their chosen field. The answers to these questions can include useful tips on strategies for gaining entry into a particular field and help to inform your career decision making.
- What interested you in this career?
- How did you get to where you are today?
- What is your role in the organisation?
- On a typical day in this position, what do you do?
- How does your job role contribute to the overall objectives of the organisation?
- In your opinion is there still a demand for people in this profession?
- What has been the highlight of your career to date?
- What part of your job do you find most satisfying/challenging?
- What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful in this job?
- What special advice would you give a new graduate wishing to enter your industry?
- What special knowledge or experience did you have that helped you to break into this industry?
Industry related questions:
We live in an ever changing world with new challenges emerging daily. These types of question will give you a more detailed insight into your industry of interest and provide ideas on what issues to focus on when preparing for interviews.
- What in your opinion are the most important qualifications to succeed in this career?
- What are the main challenges facing your industry today?
- What are the major problems?
- What opportunities do you see arising in this field?
- How would you describe the culture of this field/industry?
- How has the industry changed since you entered it?
- Do you know anyone else who can tell me more about this industry?
- What are the opportunities for advancement in this field?
- What tips do you have for a new graduate trying to gain entry into this industry?
- Which professional journals or books would you advise that I read to help me learn more about this industry?
Organisation related questions:
This category of questions will aid your company research which will be useful when preparing for applications/interviews. The answers may also help you to make a decision about who you would really like to work for.
- What do you like about your company?
- What did you like about the previous companies you worked for?
- Do you know anyone at _________ (a company you're interested in)?
- How would you describe the organisation’s culture and environment?
- What are the company plans for the next 5 years?
- Why did you personally decide to work for X?