Three Steps to Building a Network
- speakeasytrainingb
- Feb 22, 2016
- 2 min read
You know what they say, "It's not what you know. It's who you know."
Introducing three tried and true steps for building a great network and making the job hunt a little less painful, compliments of the SpeakEasy Training, LLC. team.
Get connected.
The age of LinkedIn is upon us, so use the site to your advantage. If you're looking at a particular company, type the company name into your LinkedIn search bar and find employees who already work there. Send them a quick invite to get connected and shoot them a message asking to set up an informational interview. If you're looking within a particular geographic location, post something on your college alumni Facebook page or reach out to friends who are already in the area. The more people in your corner, the better.
Interview. On your own terms.
Set up informational interviews with your new connections or, if they don't work in your field of interest, ask them to point you in the direction of someone who does. Come prepared with a list of questions, like "can you tell me about your career path?" and "what is your best advice for someone looking to break into this field of work?" NEVER ask for a job, but do ask for other people that you can get in contact with to help in your search.
Stay in touch.
Handwritten thank you notes are always a good place to start, but, at the very least, a prompt email will do the trick. Be gracious and appreciative towards the people that have taken the time to help you and keep them in the loop as you move forward. You'll be surprised by the power of the connections you build, so be patient and be thankful.
