Want to accelerate your job search?
Well, buckle up Buttercup, ‘cause I’ve got a deep-dive for you today.
There’s 1 key way to amp up your job search, and that’s to get your networking game in order.
And let me just say that if you’re anything like me, you’ve heard this piece of advice before, and it irritates you because you think to yourself, ‘Sure, it’s important to have a network, but I don’t have one and it takes time to build one, so that really doesn’t help me right now.’
Because I’ve been in that position, I can tell you that you just have to start somewhere.
And because I want you to know I’m always here to help, let me give you some strategy to get you started. I call it my 3 Layers of Networking (working title 🤓).
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Layer 1 – Networking with People You Know
Layer 1 involves the people closest to you: your friends, family, and other people you actually know. This is an excellent first step, if you’re just getting started with networking.
(Many job seekers I work with are initially hesitant about this, but in almost every case they’re surprised by how many people are willing to help them if they ask.)
Reach out to all the people you know well and who are really in your corner. Tell them your situation and include as much relevant detail as possible. This isn’t a time to be vague.
Let them know what role, industry, or company you’re looking for, and why you’re a great fit.
Ask them to keep you in mind if they hear of any openings and ask them to consider whether they know someone in that role, company, or industry they can introduce you to.
Ultimately, the more people you have out there keeping an eye or ear out for you, the better.
When doing this, always be mindful of the person you’re reaching out to, and always show gratitude for any time or help they give you.
Layer 2 – Networking with NEW People (…w/o expecting immediate return)
Many job seekers only try to ‘network’ when they need something right now.
But that short-term approach often leads to hollow relationships and leaves the person on the other end of your efforts feeling taken for granted.
Layer 2 is all about long-term strategy, and it’s where you should spend the majority of your networking energy.
Focus on building relationships with new people you can learn from, who can enrich your professional life, and who you can develop a real, genuine relationship with – without expecting something from them right away.
Find and Follow or Connect with (usually on LinkedIn, or another social media platform) other professionals in your career space. These can be people who do the type of job you want to do, work in the company you want to work in, or otherwise have insider knowledge that you probably don’t have. Your only goal should be to build relationships with people you genuinely like and respect.
Once you’re following or connected with them, pay attention to their content, and try to engage whenever possible by clicking one of the reaction options or – better yet – leaving a comment.
This is a great way to spark conversations that you can build on to send meaningful DMs and eventually cultivate deeper relationships.
PRO TIP: Start with something helpful to them or some sort of compliment – send them an article that aligns with something they posted, tell them about a post of theirs that you liked, or tell them about something they said in a comment that really resonated with you.
Just like in Layer 1, always be mindful of the person you’re reaching out to, and always show gratitude for any time or help they give you.
Layer 3 – Networking with People who Can Offer Direct & Immediate Return
This layer is where many job seekers spend the majority of their time, but truthfully it should only make up a small (but highly targeted) percentage of your networking efforts.
Layer 3 is focused on people who have the ability to directly affect your job search and help it move forward in some way.
This can include someone who works at your target company, who can introduce you to someone at that company, or who otherwise is or can connect you with an influencer or decision-maker for a target role or company.
Even though this is a short-term, immediate-return strategy, it’s still important to Start with something helpful to them or some sort of compliment.
If you start with an immediate ‘ask’, you’re a lot less likely to get a response.
And as with all networking efforts, always be mindful of the person you’re reaching out to, and always show gratitude for any time or help they give you.
Want more guidance in your networking and job search?
Job searching is tough stuff! Whether you’re completely stuck or just need some strategic guidance, I’ve got you covered.
- Check out my Job Search Launch Kit. (I just lowered the price on this as part of a full-scale restructuring of my pricing and services. 👍)
- If you’re ready to take serious action on your career and you’re looking for a resume and job search pro, Apply Now for a strategy call with me!
