Job-Applications.com Networking Lesson Plan

http://www.job-applications.com/resources/lesson-plans/©Copyright Job-Applications.com
The Importance of Networking
BY DOUG CRAWFORD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Job-Applications.com

Networking Is
More Than Just
The Internet
While social media truly helps in
maintaining career and personal
networks, there really is more to it than
that.

http://www.job-applications.com/resources/lesson-plans/
©Copyright Job-Applications.com
What Networking Actually Means
 While social media remains an excellent source for networking and
building relationships in the job market, offline sources still benefit all who
choose to use them.
 Networking means enlisting support to comfortably ask for advice, ideas,
and referrals
 Professional relationships built through networking should be a “give-and-
take,” not one sided
 In the end, finding and using available resources may just get you that job

Building Your
Network

Easy Ways To Build A Network
 What Should Be Done:
 Use referrals
 Join professional associations or clubs
 Volunteer
 Attend Networking Events
 Contact former educators, administrators,
and career-services officers
 Contact former co-workers, customers,
and volunteer organizations
 Find a mentor
 What Shouldn’t Be Done:
 Ignore people trying to help you
 Use shyness as an excuse not to meet
people who can help
 Lose or misplace business cards given to
you in your job hunt
 Overuse a networking option and give
nothing in return
 Forget to follow up

Why Should
You Network?
 Some jobs may be closed to
outside applicants.
 Internal vacancies may
become available through
referral.
 Employers may not want to
take the risk on the unknown.
Knowing someone may help
change that perception.

But I’m New To All Of This…
 Teenagers, new high school graduates, and college students just starting
out face an uphill battle in getting even the most basic job.
 So where should you turn:
 Classmates, alumni, and recent grads
 Parents, relatives, and parents of friends
 Teachers, coaches, advisers, and guidance counselors
 What if I’ve never worked before?
 Volunteer experiences offer great opportunity to network
 Attending charity events and fundraisers is a “Who’s Who” of professionals

Informational
Interviewing
 It isn’t a type of job
interview…It’s preparing for the
job interview.
 Consists of talking to a contact
in a highly focused
conversation
 Material gleaned helps
understand the information
necessary to perform the job
you’re looking for

Utilizing Informational Interviewing
 Helps show what a job is really like, beyond a job description on an
employment website
 Assists in finding opportunities in your field of choice that you may not
have even known existed
 Helps affirm career aspirations
 May also help you realize you’re moving in the wrong direction
 Aids in narrowing down a potentially wide field
 Best of all, you stay ahead of those not talking to anyone

Final Thoughts
 Networking isn’t necessarily easy, but once you start to build your network,
the rewards speak for themselves
 For new job seekers that are shy or feel as if limited experience will hinder
chances:
 Use a buddy system: pair up with a friend to make the rounds together
 Project enthusiasm: smile often, become self-assured through practice
 Work for it: getting the job, in the end, is up to you
 Online networking: it’s okay to use it, just don’t let it become a crutch
 Always, always, always express gratitude.

So What Have We Learned?
 What Does Networking Actually Mean?
 What are some ways you can network
offline?
 List some people and groups who can
help grow your network.
 If you’ve never worked before, what are
some ways you can build a network?
 Why should you bother networking if
there are all these job boards, postings,
and “Help Wanted” signs?
 Informational Interviewing
 What does it mean to have an
“informational interview?”
 How does it differ from a job interview?
 Are there similarities?
 Describe how informational interviewing
can get you ahead of the game.

Additional Resources
For more information about networking, check out the following resources
from Job-Applications.com:
http://www.job-applications.com/
http://www.job-applications.com/blog/
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrJobApplications
http://www.job-applications.com/video-library/
https://www.facebook.com/JobApplications

Job-Applications.com Networking Lesson Plan

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