What to Do Before You Network?

We all know that networking is a very essential component of job hunting as it increases the chance of success of your job search. In this article, I would like to share certain steps that must be taken before you begin networking. These steps are important as they allow you to put an effective strategy in place that generates results.

1. Identify People in Your Network
The first step is to identify the people in your network and highlight key players. Grab your phone or address book and list:

Your personal contacts. These can be anyone including:

1. Friends
2. Family
3. Parents of your children’s friends
4. Parents of your friends
5. Relatives of your friends
6. Club members (country club, swim club, sports club)
7. Associations
8. Neighbors
9. Sports team members
10. Social media connections

Professional contacts. People in this category include:

1. Current coworkers
2. Previous coworkers
3. Previous managers
4. Consultants
5. Vendors and suppliers