Hanging out and meeting people is the understanding of networking. Wherever you go and socialize, then you have done it.
Carrying out the networking process can be as simple as having a conversation at the bus stop, meeting parents of other students when handing out report cards, gathering with friends from the same circle, meeting with former college friends, even those closest to you, namely your neighbors. Every angle of an interaction can refer to networking for your job opportunities.
Networking means we have to help each other because eventually we will be connected. You will be haunted by loneliness and depression without any interaction. So, this means networking is finding new relationships and maintaining existing relationships.
Benefits of Networking for Work
Networking is the best way to find work, the reasons are:
- Business can take place between people who already know each other and are compatible with each other. Application letters and CVs are still not enough to provide an interpersonal impression for job recipients.
- The jobs available will certainly attract a lot of interest, and a lot of interest means a lot of competition. Having a network will make it easier for you to join a smaller and specific working group.
- Dream job vacancies that suit your skills may not appear in the advertisement. So this is the role of networking which can give you job information even before it is published in the advertisement.
How to Expand Networking
Sometimes we don’t realize that we know more people than we think to get job-related information. In fact, it is very possible to find a relationship where you can know people who know other people who have information related to workers’ needs, and that may be what you dream of. All this valuable information can be easily obtained just by asking.
1. Create a List of Your Contacts
Your network is bigger and maybe you don’t even realize that it is included in the realm of your networking, for example family, neighbors, people closest to you, acquaintances who are not too close, or even new people. You can search on social media and job search applications, then you connect with many people and make notes. You will definitely be surprised to see how many and large networks you have.
Think about the unthinkable, like people you just met at the salon, people who once worked in the same office, high school friends you don’t even know, and many more.
You can also think more broadly, such as people you know thanks to those closest to you, for example the big boss who is your father’s friend, the packaging provider who works with your brother’s vendor, the HRD manager who is your brother’s close friend, the marketing supervisor who knows your neighbor, office boy who once met your mother at the nearest food stall, and there are many other possibilities for forming networking.
2. Contact the Network You Have
Realize that no matter how big and many connections you have, they will never know your situation if you don’t tell them. If you have finished compiling your network list, then start contacting them naturally. You can also ask openly if there are any jobs you could enter.
It is very necessary to convey what field you are interested in and ask if there are job vacancies that suit your interests and talents in a relevant way. Always be optimistic that whoever and whatever your friend’s position at the office, they might be able to help you in getting a job because of their good relationship with their boss.
3. Determine Goals before Starting Networking
Determine the specific type of work and type of company you want to go to so that the network can function as it should. General requests like “Notify me when there are any updates” will only make it more difficult for you to find specific jobs.
You might think that if you are open to all possibilities, it will be easier for you to get whatever job you want, in fact, this openness is actually an invisible problem that makes it difficult for you to find a specific job.
It is better not to ask for any information than to ask your network to provide information that is too general, this could actually make you potentially lose contact with a network that has the potential to provide you with job-related information that matches your skills and level of education.
Network sources will find it easier if you ask for specific job type information and will even be willing to give tips for interviews. If you really can’t determine the specific type of job you want, then try starting by asking the people closest to you, such as your family or close friends. Never try to contact a network that is not too close before deciding on your choice.
4. Focus on Building Relationships
Some of the things you can do when you want to build and maintain network relationships are to act as you are and always be open. Acting as you are means showing what your personality is like, what your situation really is, how you behave when you meet new people, and how you respond to your condition.
Then, being honest means that you are open about who you are, what your qualifications are, and what job specifications you want. This method makes it easier for you to find new jobs through the network you have. Find other interesting tips for developing your network by reading reviews on Korindocareers.com. Hope it is useful.