According to many studies, only 10% to 20% of jobs are advertised publicly; the rest are filled through more informal channels. The cliché “It’s who you know, not what you know” is all too true.  Through networking you stand a better chance of hearing about openings that might be of particular interest, as well as having a channel through which to promote yourself and your abilities.

Networking can seem intimidating; just ask anyone who has ever found themselves in a room full of strangers. But it doesn’t have to be. Remember, you already know how to network. You have a collection of friends, relatives and co-workers who you go to for advice, companionship and who come to you if they need help. Career-minded networking is very much the same. In fact it has never been easier to connect with a wide range of people, in particular due to the immense power of the internet and email. While there are no hard and fast rules, here are some tips for the career-minded professional.

Find places where you will meet the right people. Join a business association or club in your field. Besides providing opportunities for networking in your field, business associations are a great source of experience. Many senior people have gone through the early stages of career development and can help guide you around pitfalls that you might be unaware of. YPAC is an ideal place to make contacts through our networking events.  Do more than be a passive member, get involved!  You can build a reputation for yourself as an efficient organizer and gain experience that you can add to your resume.

Join your school or college alumni.  Some of your classmates undoubtedly have jobs in the industry/field you are interested in.  They could be in a position to help you, now or in the future.  And alumni organizations make networking easy; they organize many events and provide numerous opportunities for quality networking. Overcoming the initial awkwardness is sometimes easier in alumni associations since you know you have something in common with the other members, you went to the same school.

Do volunteer work.  Not only will you meet people, you will gain new skills that can help develop your career.  To find a volunteer position that would interest you, try volunteerbridge.ca, charityvillage.com or craigslist.org.  Whether you are interested in working in marketing, event planning, and administration or as a member of a board of directors, you should look for something that interests you. More importantly than the networking opportunities of course, you will have helped others and given something back to the community. Another way to give back is to volunteer within a association or club that you are already a member of. Besides being able to give back to the club, you get a better chance to interact more meaningfully with other members. YPAC is always on the lookout for volunteers for our committees.

Harness the power of the biggest network of them all, the internet.  It provides opportunities for everyone to develop contacts, regardless of their status or position. Use search engines to find locally based groups of like-minded people. Sites such as Meetup.com provide a plethora of groups in a number of cities. Professions ranging from programmers, marketing professionals, and realtors, to name only a few are catered to as well as the usual book and film clubs.  If you are interested in working in a field about which you only know very little, approach the local group and attend a couple of meetings.  You could get a whole new perspective on the field by meeting active practitioners. Another site, Linkedin.com opens up a huge network of professional contacts.

Show your creativity by being proactive in your use of the web.  Don’t just surf the net, set up your own website and post your resume and anything else you’d like to share with the world.  If you are an aspiring artist, journalist or graphic designer, it is the ideal medium through which to showcase your work and invite potential employers or prospects to contact you.  Don’t worry if you are not skilled in web design, there are numerous easy-to-use applications available online to simplify the process.

When you have built up a list of contacts, the next step is to make use of your network.  Let people know who you are and what you can do.  Market yourself the way you would market a product; sell yourself.  No one else will do it for you.

Your new friends and acquaintances can be a source of help and advice during your job search, even if they cannot specifically recommend you for a position. They may be able to suggest a course of study that would benefit you or an association that you should join.

A very important and often overlooked part of aspect of using your network is to thank people for any help they give and make sure to return the favour in the future. Remember that networking is all about building relationships, not just adding names to your address book or doling out business cards.  If people see you as genuine, they will have the confidence to refer you to others.

Through effective networking, a range of new options and possibilities will be opened up to you. Even if a contact can’t help you directly, they can be your eyes and ears scouting for openings that could otherwise pass you by.  You can also learn other people’s strategies for job hunting success and keep abreast of developments in your chosen industry. If done properly, networking can afford you the opportunity to explore career paths outside your own industry and experience.