Networking = Relationship Building

By Barbara Limmer

Director of Career Management Programs

Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management

Know Your Objective

Networking is the gathering and sharing of information - an ongoing process of relationship building. The main keys to networking are understanding your objective and continuing your relationship.

Are you gathering information for job search purposes, conducting market research, investigating new business development opportunities, or are you searching for a support network in your professional field?

Brainstorming for Contacts

Once you know why you're networking, the first step is to brainstorm about whom you know or anyone who might know something/someone related to your purpose. The goal is to create a succinct, targeted list that can be built upon.

Consider this example: You are interested in applying for a job at United Parcel Service (UPS) in Atlanta , but don't know anyone who works there; you do, however, know family friends who live in Atlanta . Take the opportunity to investigate whether they have any UPS connections or know of anyone else in Atlanta who does.

What other ways might you develop contacts?

· Your school's alumni office: Are any alumni affiliated with your field/company of interest/objectives?

· Magazine articles: Search for professionals who have been quoted in articles related to your purpose. Let them know that you read about them in the magazine and would like to speak further with them about the highlighted topic.

· Professional Associations: Major libraries have lists or directories of professional associations. Set goals of making contact with 10 people per meeting, or take a leadership role in the organization.

· Building a Pyramid of Contacts: Never end a networking appointment without asking, “Do you know anyone else I should contact?” This is how your network continues to grow - like a pyramid.

How to Make Contact

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.