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Power Networking

Beyond The Basics: Career Strategies That Work Part I by Janet M. Shlaes, Ph.D.

Networking is a critical component of your entire career development process. It is the most effective way to build and maintain enjoyable and strategic professional and personal relationships. Approximately 75% of all jobs are not advertised and are only found through networking. Networking is an indirect process which provides direct access to the "hidden job market," -- the world of unadvertised jobs. Networking involves talking to people in order to expand your business and personal contacts while simultaneously expanding your knowledge about the world of work. Through the process of asking your networking contacts for career information and advice, you will quickly uncover job leads and referrals to potential employers.

Networking needs to be an ongoing component of your career development process. Whether you are actively seeking employment or are currently employed and considering a job change, the best time to start networking is now! Before you begin, you need to create a networking list and decide on an appropriate networking strategy. In order to create your list, think about the people you know in the various areas of your life:

  • Friends
  • Relatives
  • Neighbors
  • School: High School, College, Graduate School, etc.
  • Religious Affiliation: Synagogue, Church, etc.
  • Hobbies
  • Sports
  • Clubs: health, golf, tennis, social, etc.
  • Children: families of friends from school, extracurricular activities, etc.
  • Community organizations
  • Community merchants
  • Professional organizations
  • Service Providers: personal, home, work, etc.
  • Current and former coworkers

Write down the names of all the people you know in each of these categories. Continue adding to your list until you have exhausted the potential networking contacts in each category. If you are actively involved in a job search, you will also need to make a list of your targeted industries and targeted organizations.

Now that you have your networking list, you need to determine your networking strategy regarding the specific type of information you will request from your networking contacts. There are six main types of networking strategies to choose from:

Career Advice
Job-Hunting Advice
Key Information
Informational Interview
Who Do You Know?
Key Personnel Moves

1) Career Advice (Strategy for recent graduates and potential career changers)

  • Reaffirm or determine your current career direction
  • Examine possible career alternatives

2) Job-Hunting Advice (Strategy for anyone who is currently seeking employment)

  • Resume advice -- Is your resume presenting your best professional image?
  • Cover letter advice -- who to target cover letters to and how to write effective cover letters
  • Advice on interviewing -- recommendations regarding how to be strategic during the interview process
  • Advice on overall approach to job-hunting -- possible target organizations/industries and advice regarding organizing your job search and effective job-hunting techniques
  • Advice on negotiating strategy and techniques -- e.g., avoiding salary discussion at the beginning of the interview process
  • Referral to other contacts who are knowledgeable regarding career strategies.

3) Key Information (Strategy for anyone seeking or considering employment at specific organizations)

  • Information concerning current or planned expansions or contractions at your targeted organization
  • Current problems facing your trgeted organization and industry
  • Restructuring and current shifts in your target organization's culture
  • Key personnel moves within your targeted organization
  • Names and titles of target executives for networking opportunities

4) Informational Interview (Strategy for recent graduates and career or industry changers)

  • Career advice
  • Job search advice
  • Industry information
  • Company information
  • Names of key networking contacts

5) Who Do You Know? (Strategy for anyone who is focused on working for a specific organization)

  • Target executives who have the authority to hire
  • Employees of targeted companies who can lead you to executives with the authority to hire
  • Individuals who are knowledgeable regarding your targeted industry and/or targeted company

6) Key Personnel Moves (Strategy for anyone who is focused on working for a specific organization or industry)

  • Promotions - within the organization or resulting from industry transfers
  • Retirements and/or resignations
  • Involuntary terminations
  • Extended medical leaves or deaths

Your networking effectiveness depends on how clear and focused you are concerning your professional identity, needs and goals. You need to choose a strategy that is appropriate for your current career development needs and goals. Which networking strategy will you use in order to build your professional network, access the "hidden job market" and uncover viable job leads? Jewish Vocational Service has career counselors and job-placement specialists at various locations throughout the Chicago and North Suburban area who can help you create an effective networking strategy.

Updated 14 December 1998

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