How to Make Networking Groups Work for You in Your Job Search

Networking, as many experienced job hunters know, is probably the single most important technique for finding a job. The term means, quite simply, talking to people you know, friends, relatives, and business acquaintances to make them aware that you are in the job market. You solicit their help in letting you know if they hear of any opportunities or could refer you to others who might be of help. The more people who know that you're looking, the better are your chances of finding the job you want.

Although the rise of local networking/support groups who meet in churches, community centers and schools has become an extremely important networking tool, it is an often overlooked resource by many recent college graduates. In the Chicagoland area alone, for example, there are over sixty formal networking support groups offering contacts and job hunting advice at little or no cost. These groups are open to virtually anyone seeking a new opportunity.

As a college career counselor, I regularly meet with both students and alumni to discuss their job search strategies, and find that knowledge of this very important resource is either extremely low or viewed as the purview of "experienced executives" only. Such is definitely not the case. While there are networking/support groups that specialize in executives above a certain salary level, the vast majority of groups accept job hunters at any level.

How Meetings are Organized

Networking meetings generally start by each person introducing themselves and talking about what they are looking for. If someone in the group thinks they can be of help with a contact, they volunteer a name or two. After everyone has had their say, there is generally a coffee time where informal contacts are made. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it?

Your local church or community center may be able to help you find a networking group near you, but that's just half the battle. You need to make these groups work for you when you attend. Over the many years that I've led and participated in networking groups, I've noticed that many individuals find it difficult to establish connections at these meetings. Yet others used them to maximum advantage.

What makes the difference? A few rules of the road should help you benefit from your visit to a networking meeting, which means making more personal contacts, which can create more leads, which may get you the job you want faster:

Six Networking Group Guidelines for Recent Graduates

1. Before the meeting, prepare a brief opening statement. Prepare a brief one or two minute verbal presentation that provides specific answers to the inevitable first question, "Tell us a little about yourself." Among the subjects to be covered are who you are professionally or where you go to school, the type of job you're looking for, current or past relevant work experience, and one or two specific skills you offer.

2. Mention specific companies and industries in which you have an interest. The more specific you are about what you want, the better chance people have to help you. This means that you have to do your homework before the meeting, including developing a list of companies at which you would like a contact.

3. Come to the meeting prepared to join in and help others. Even if you do not know a lot of people, perhaps your parents or relatives work for different companies or you may have an idea which could help someone else at the meeting. Remember, their desire to want to help you could hinge on your interest in them.

4. Have business cards and resumes available. Have personal business cards printed up with your name and phone number. Hand them out along with your resume to connections you make at these meetings.

5. Don't be shy about mixing with the participants. Introduce yourself to the group leader and stay around after the meeting to have coffee and talk to other participants. Group leaders are often experts in the job hunting profession and are generally quite willing to offer suggestions.

6. Dress in a casual but professional manner. Remember, these people are recommending you to someone they may know, so look as though you merit their trust. Networking groups are informal sessions but you should still put your best foot forward.

It is estimated that over eighty percent of jobs are found through personal networking rather than help wanted ads. Your use of networking groups will not only broaden your contacts, but will also enable you to strengthen your verbal communication skills for those all important job interviews.

David Gordon is a Career Counselor at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois and President of Gordon Communications, a marketing and outplacement consulting firm in Highland Park, Illinois.