Building Contacts emphasizes quantity. Again, you are trying to collect as many names of people as you can. The more you collect, the deeper you network of contacts becomes.

Building Contacts is based upon the age-old premise of “It's not what you know but who you know (and who they know!).” This combines the previous two premises of collecting as many names as possible. You must have as many acquaintances as you can to ensure that the right opportunity will come through at the right time.

On the other hand, Building Relationships is long term in nature. When starting your career, you are taking active steps to prepare for the future. The people you meet and develop bonds with will hopefully be with you for the rest of your life, regardless of the nature of those relationships.

Building Relationships emphasizes quality. You can't form deep relationships with every person with whom you come in contact. That should be, though, an underlying goal. Keeping this in mind will help you notice opportunities to form those relationships beyond the acquaintance stage.

Building Relationships dispels the “who you know” attitude. In reality, it is not just “who you know.” Getting your foot in the door most often comes from three elements:

- it is who you are (your integrity)...
- it is what you know and can do (your qualifications)...
- and it is how well another individual knows you (your relationships)...

...that gets you through the door and keeps you there.

Despite the double-sided nature of networking, you must do both.

 

Part II: How to Get Started

 

If you want to build a strong, integrated network of contacts and friends so you can begin start “planting the seeds” of new relationships, the time to start is now. Don't wait until you're hungry to start planting those seeds!

The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Networking You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. In this tough economy, people who find jobs usually do so by networking. Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students and recent graduates with zero to three years of experience who use CollegeRecruiter.com. Are you networking at least two hours a day? Those who are finding jobs are. Don't be left behind. Read this book and you will quickly find a new job. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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