How to REALLY network with others and have a strategic networking action plan that gets you results! Take your networking to the next level and get more better results while building stronger, more meaningful, and more rewarding relationships.

1. BUILDING A HUB BASED
NETWORK AND
NETWORK STRATEGY
How to dramatically increase the power and
return on your networking efforts
Greg David
Gregory Laka &

2. Networking is CRITICAL to job
search success!
 You need to meet new people.
 You need to go to different events.
 You need to learn new job search information.
 You need to meet people at firms who are
hiring.
 You need to expand your comfort zone.
 You need to make sure people know who you
are.
 You need to learn about new industries and
corps.
 You need to learn about trends, directions, hot

3. But nearly everyone does it wrong!
Let’s
learn
from the
mistakes
of others.

4. Networking for most is reactionary

 They do not strategically plan what days of the
week and month they will dedicate to attending
networking events.
 Instead, they occasionally attend different
events that friends, family, people in their
network tell them about.
 There is a better way to do this and you will
learn more in a moment.

5. Reactionary networking is BAD
!!!
 Most do not attend the same number of
planned events each week, and each month.
 Most do not attend the same events each
month.
 Most do not see the same audience each
month.
 Most do not read networking books on a
regular and ongoing basis.
 Most do not measure the success of their
networking.

6. Reactionary networking hurts you.
 Random activity gets random results.
 This is a major reason why many are out for
the length of time that they are.
 And they do not even know they are doing it
wrong. So they cannot make corrections and
the only cure to their pain is TIME.

7. Unskilled networking is bad 
 Most who attend an event make an average of
5 contacts---and spend 90% of their time with
2 of them.
 Even those that attend events that feature
timed and synchronized “round robin”
information exchanges leave the event with a
stack of information, but few memorable or
meaningful contacts.
 And no one really remembers them either.

8. Unskilled networking makes others
not want to help you 
 Most use their energy to “tell their story”.
Yech!
 Most use their time to talk about “poor me”.
Boring!
 Most are not prepared. Ouch!
 Most are negative, scared, scary, or worse.
Boo!
 Most just show up and have no plan. Whoops!
 Most just take up space and don’t contribute.
Zzzzz!

9. The key to continued success is
measuring your improvement.
Most job seekers exist in
quadrant one. They are
incompetent at the new
rules of job search and
networking, and they do not
even know it.
Very few ever make it to
quadrant three since they
prefer to work a passive
search, staying within their
comfort zone.
The key to success is
getting to quadrant three as
soon as possible and
striving for quadrant four.
1 2
34
The Four Levels of Competence.

10. Networking helps me find a job 
Wrong.
Like a blind
squirrel that
finds a nut
once in a
while, they
trip over
something
that enables
them to find
a job and
then
attribute that
to
networking.

11. Proper networking gives you measurably
effective results that allows you to
significantly reduce the duration, pain,
expense, and frustration of a job search.
And it allows you to be in a position to have
multiple offers, for positions that are more in
line with what you really want.
Let’s focus on proper
networking!

12. You need a networking
STRATEGY!
 It needs to be written, planned out in advance
by week, month, quarter, etc.
 It needs to be repetitive, where you become a
regular attendee.
 It needs to be diverse, and you are constantly
modifying the strategy as well as the events
you attend to introduce new energy and results
to your networking LIFELINE.
 It needs to be measured and altered on a
regular basis.

13. Use a “HUB” approach to building
a network team.
Sales
Finance
HR
“C” level
YOU Marketin
g
Admin
Purchasin
g
Supply
Chain
The concept
here is to build a
‘team’ of people
who also are in
search mode.
This model is
better than what
most people use
since there is
less conflict of
interest. With no
competition for
roles, these
team mates are
more likely to
provide leads
and value to you
in your search.
The key to this
model working
successfully is
to continually
monitor the
activity and
continually
add/remove
team mates.
Also,
everyone’s
focus should
be on
providing
leads to each
other---in
effect, giving
before they
receive.

14. Use a “HUB” approach to building
a FAITH based networking
strategy.
Stone
Church
Faith
Network
Willow
Creek
Temple
Beth-El
St.
Stephen
St.
Patrick’sUnity
Lutheran
1st
Methodist
Holy
Name
Participating
in faith
based
network
activities and
events is a
hidden gem.
Yet it needs
to be
broader
based than
what most
people do,
and it has to
be done
consistently.
It is all about
the
Avoid the mistake
of singling out one
or just a few
groups. To be
extremely
effective, you
need to
participate in a
wide variety of
groups regularly.
Get outside your
comfort zone and
mix among faith
based groups.
You will make
wonderful
connections and

15. Use a “HUB” approach to building
an academic network strategy.
Academic
U of I
DePaul Loyola
U of
Chicag
o
N-
western
High
School
Communi
ty College
Alma
Mater
Academic
groups are
very active in
hosting forums,
conferences,
and
symposiums in
which you will
meet a wide
variety of
employed
contacts in an
unassuming
environment.
People
exchange
information
often very
You will learn
much on unique
and timely
topics that you
can use in your
job search.
This is a
significant edge
that savvy job
seekers can
use to their
advantage to be
more
competitive and
more strategic
in their search.

16. Use a “HUB” approach to build a
JOB club network strategy.
Job Club
GHM
Netshar
e
RiteSite
Ladders TRN
Out of
Work
Chi
Evansto
n Job
Ctr
TLA
Think you cannot
afford to join a
fee based
organization or
hire a
professional
coach?
In what is the
most competitive
job market of
your life, you
cannot afford not
to.
You have to
spend money in
a job search to

17. Use a “HUB” approach to building
a JOB board search strategy.
Job
Boards
Monster
DICE
Career
Builder
Niche
boards
Linkedin
Fee
based
Craigslist
Electroni
c
Commun
es
Use
www.indeed.com
to search for jobs
based on the
criteria you
select.
Save your
searches as
agents to run
every day, and
save yourself a
great deal of
time.
Make sure
you create a
variety of
smart search
agents to
ensure that
you know of
new roles you
qualify for as
soon as they
become
available.
Don’t forget the groups and neighborhoods associated with AOL, Yahoo,
Google, etc.

18. Use a “HUB” approach for
establishing a TECH TOOLS
network.
Linkedin
Tech
Tools
Plaxo
Xobni
Indeed
Resume
Spider
ACT!
Hoovers
Twitter
You need to
have a robust
and well
designed
presence on
Linkedin and
similar sites.
Have a minimum
of 10
recommendation
s or risk not
being
considered.
You must use
Outlook or
similar to
manage your
You
absolutely
need to use a
site like
ResumeSpid
er to
penetrate the
proprietary
databases of
firms that
have jobs
that you fit. If
you do not
use it, you
are
significantly
increasing
your time in
Here is a link that can also give you a 10% discount if you
use them: http://www.resumespider.com/?dcode=914902

19. Use a “HUB” approach to
determine WHEN you will network.
Monthly
events
Private
clubs
Assoc. Academ
ic
SIG’s
Chamber
of
Commerc
e
User
Groups
Fee
based
Faith
based
It is critical to attend at least 8
events monthly, and
consistently. It is also critical
that you attend the same
events on a consistent basis
to make new contacts, and
strengthen the relationships
with those already in your
network.
Be a contributor, not a taker.
Be someone who focuses on
the needs of others.
Make sure you are well read
on networking, and make
sure you “stick and move”!

20. Use a “HUB” approach to getting
involved in ‘others facing’
initiatives.
Be others
focused
Boys &
Girls
ClubsCivic &
Arts
Museu
ms &
Zoos
Church
fundraising
i.c. stars
Make a
Wish
Animal
Shelter
Soup
Kitchen
A ‘hidden’ secret in job search
networking is to get involved
in community, charitable, and
cause focused groups. You
will meet a wonderful new
group of people, do something
that is worthwhile, and it is
good for you.
Getting involved is also an
incredible job search tool
since people are very open to
helping others who share their
same “others focused”
compassion, and you may find
that this element of hub based
networking to be an invaluable
element in your search

21. When you do attend networking
events...
You are
always on
stage.
Make sure
you have a
well polished
and detailed
“elevator
speech” to
share at any
opportunity.
Make it
memorable.
 Spend 5 minutes of quality time with
each person, yet no more than 10
minutes. Think “stick and move”.
 Focus on them. Take their card and
get them talking about them. Take
active notes on their card.
 Ask them how you can help them.
 In closing, give them your card and a
quick rehearsed and polished “snap
shot” of who you are, what your core
strength is, and what you are looking
for. Make sure it is well defined and
memorable.

22. Be an ATTRACTIVE networker!
Avoid any
and all
negative
people. Do
not fall into
the trap of
venting your
frustration or
commiseratin
g with others.
It is never
acceptable to
do this.
Scream into
a pillow
instead when
you get
frustrated or
go work out
and get rid of
the stress.
 Be an active listener and get them
talking.
 Have lots of energy and enthusiasm.
 Use strong supportive language.
 Practice strong body language.
 Focus on relationship building.
 Smile, smile, smile, smile. Smile
some more.
 Be ATTRACTIVE to others and you
will be the one that others want to
network with!

23. You need to spend money!
 If you think that you cannot afford to spend money on
job search tools, sites, etc. you are wrong.
 If you think that you cannot afford to join fee based
organizations, you are wrong.
 If you think that you cannot afford to have a resume
professionally done, you are wrong.
 You cannot afford NOT to do these things.
 If you make 50K a year, that is $4166.00 per month
you lose being unemployed. If you make 100K
annually, that is $8300.00 monthly that you lose while
you are unemployed.
 You do the math. Spending $5-10K on a job search
can be a very sound financial investment.

24. Have an activity methodology.
 At events, make others the primary focus of your
time. Learn as much as you can and note info on
back of their cards.
 Have good cards that document your skills briefly
on the back, with your contact info on the front.
 Data enter in all info to a contact manager like
ACT! daily.
 Send thank you or follow up notes the following
day.
 Make it a point to touch your network contacts
monthly. Send emails. Send articles. Send leads.

25. Have your contact information
everywhere!
 Business cards.
 Every page of resume. Don’t put contact info in
header of resume. This will hurt you.
 Have full contact info in signature of email and
set up to insert in all email replies.
 Have a business looking email address (i.e.
greg.david@att.net or john.doe@gmail.com ).
 Avoid using Yahoo, Sbcglobal, or anyone that
uses Yahoo as it’s backbone for email.

26. Have your contact information
everywhere!
 Never use Earthlink. It’s way of avoiding spam is
a nuisance and most will not put up with the extra
steps to have to work with you.
 Having your contact info in every email allows
those you communicate with to automate adding
you to their address book, and applicant tracking
system.
 Gwabbit.com is a great automated tool for adding
others to your address book. Worth it’s weight in
!

27. GREG DAVID, PRESIDENT
GREGORY LAKA & COMPANY
105 W. ADAMS, SUITE 1350
CHICAGO, IL 60603
312-782-0202
GREG.DAVID@LAKA.COM
Linkedin:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregdavid