Networking

I'm Nobody! Who are You?
Are you Nobody too?
Then there's a pair of us?
Don't tell! They'd advertise –
You know!
– Emily Dickenson, 1861

It's a good thing Emily Dickinson was self-employed because she would have had a hard time finding a job with that attitude. Making use of personal contacts, or networking, is the most effective way to find a job. It is also essential for learning about your career options before you begin a job search. The key to successful networking is recognizing that you are not a "Nobody."

You have many more contacts than you are probably aware of, and you have many contacts yet to be developed. You are a Somebody.

Think of what the term "Network" means
A network is like a spider web. It is a complex inter-weaving of links that all connect back to the spider in the middle. A network of people is similarly complex and multi-layered. As a student, recent graduate or someone just starting out in a particular career field, you might feel that your list of personal contacts is too short; or, you might not even know one person in the field that you want to work in, so you have no list at all.

Even if you are starting with limited connections, you can network successfully. The trick is to delve beyond the first layer of contacts. Let's say you want to get into the creative side of advertising. You've asked all your family and friends if they know anybody who works in advertising and they don't. What do you do next? You delve beyond that first layer. Here's how!

Expand that first list beyond family and close friends
Ask professors, ask classmates you may not know so well, even ask your dentist or hairdresser. Ask anyone you come in contact with in your daily routine. Of course you can't expect total strangers that you stop on the street to refer you to a friend of their's, but you'd be surprised at how the most tenuous of acquaintances are willing to give you names of people to talk to. People like to tell you who they know. It makes them feel important. See the list on the next page for sources of contacts.

Be creative about how you search for contacts
If you still can't find anyone who knows anyone in advertising, think of another way to go about your search. You might remember an uncle who works for a soft drink company that uses an ad agency that you'd be interested in working for. See who he knows in his company's advertising or marketing department and see who they know on the creative side of the ad agency they use. You're putting together a string of connections. The person you eventually talk to won't even know your uncle, but the funny thing about networking is that doesn't matter. As long as you have a name to give to people, even if you don't know the person behind the name that gets you to your final "target person," it doesn't matter. You're suddenly a "Somebody" to that person you want to talk to.

Sources of contacts
Until you've checked off everyone on this list, you haven't made the most of networking. You can find contacts through:
  • Family/extended family
  • Friends/acquaintances
  • Co-workers and employers past and present
  • Teachers and professors
  • Alumni/ae of your high school(s) and college(s) – check out the OCD Alumnae Network on our website
  • Counselors/advisors in your high school(s) and college(s)
  • Clubs and organizations you belong to
  • Your health club or sports teams you play on
  • Churches/temples/other religious organizations
  • Your doctor, dentist, hairdresser, and anyone else who takes care of you and a lot of other people.
  • People you don't know but who do work that interests you. Try writing a letter to someone you read an article about or whom you found listed in a directory of organizations. Follow-up with a phone call to request a brief informational interview.
Pay attention to both quantity and quality
The number of connections you make in networking is important, but the quantity of contacts should not take precedence over their quality.

Be sure that every contact you make is done with courtesy and tact, but also with a strategy that will get you what you want. Always have in mind specific questions to ask or information to get from anyone you speak with. People can best help you when they know precisely what you need. Get to know people and let them get to know you. Don't just ask, "Do you have a job for me?" and then move on to the next contact when they say no. Try to meet with people face-to-face whenever possible. They'll be more likely to want to help you if they feel like they know you. Be sure to keep in touch with your contacts, thanking them for their assistance or keeping them abreast of your plans. By doing so, not only are you giving something back to them but are also developing a relationship with them.

Find your own style of networking
Networking, unfortunately, favors the out-going, socially fearless among us. People who are shy and timid or those who just aren't all that interested in meeting lots of people may find networking to be a daunting task. It need not be. All you need to do is find your own style of networking. For example, if calling someone cold on the phone makes you so nervous you can't even dial the number, consider writing a letter first, then following-up with a call. Perhaps you can also have the person who gave you the contact's name call the contact to let them know that you will be calling. Also think of the way that you prefer to meet people. True extroverts will probably enjoy doing their networking by meeting strangers at meetings or parties. Others may prefer to cultivate contacts on a more one-to-one basis – being introduced by a mutual acquaintance, for example. You will be most successful in your networking if you find the best method for you.