How Strategic Networking Can Help You Find Your Next Job (And Tips On How To Go About Doing It)

Ask anyone who's ever had me as their career coach and they'll tell you I look like I've smelled a skunk whenever they say they've only been doing job applications instead of strategic networking.

That's because in addition to the fact that data shows 80-85% of jobs that are available are not posted, and 60% of jobs are filled by warm leads and referrals, I'm walking, talking proof that strategic networking works. If it can work for someone like me, it can definitely work for you.

I credit my own career success as I've pivoted from one role to another to strategic networking. Although doing musical theater part-time in my early 20's was what first taught me that the age-old adage "It's not what you know, but who you know" is true, I was also extremely fortunate to learn strategic networking shortly thereafter from one of the very best networkers the homebuilding industry ever saw, Tom Weston , who I, along with so many of us who were part of the new-homebuilding industry during the 1990's and 2000's, dearly miss.

Tom heartily encouraged those of us on his client services team to not just go to industry networking events but be active members of the industry as well (like being on a committee or running for the Sales And Marketing Council's Board of Directors), because it was the most effective way to establish, maintain and deepen relationships with clients and thought leaders within the industry, all while having a sense of camaraderie and fostering long-lasting friendships, which led to so many career opportunities that I know I would not have had if I'd been just another resume in the system. (You can barely make it out because this picture's from an old photocopied news clipping but yes, that's me when I used to sport a very, very short, blond Halle Berry hairstyle).

Even after I left the world of advertising, marketing and public relations, those same networking skills served me in good stead when I decided to go into the brave, 100% commission world of sales and headhunting/recruiting and eventually, career coaching. With every pivot I made, it was always strategic networking that enabled me to integrate into new industries very quickly because these people knew and trusted me and were more than happy to introduce me to people within their own network who could just be relevant to me.

All that said, here are some strategic networking tips culled from my own experiences over my strategic networking-reliant career:

1. Be authentic. Don't put on a persona. Be yourself. It's way too exhausting to try to be someone you're not, especially if you're an introvert. Besides, people can sense when you're putting on an act. So what if you're brand-new to the industry and just starting out? Let them know you're new and want to learn from others in the industry. People will not only appreciate the candidness, they'll often go out of their way to help you because they've been in your shoes at one point in time.

2. Be specific and selective. Find your tribe! Focus on events that have to do with industries you want to be a part of, people who are relevant to your career. (ex. if you're a software engineer, do a Google search for tech events in your area or head over to Meetup.com or Eventbrite and look up, say, React, coding, UX, startups, etc. and see what events come up).

3. Be interested in others. The world isn't about you, you and you, and networking isn't and should never be transactional. You don't just go up to strangers and ask for a job, do you? I hope you don't because, dang, that's just rude. Engage with people. If you're focused on industries that interest you, you will definitely have something in common, so start with that. Ask about them, have them share their stories about how they got their start, their thoughts on the latest trends in the industry. Take the time to learn the art of having quick, effective networking conversations (this one's a whole 'nother topic altogether that I'll delve into in a separate post) and apply them every (networking) chance you get.

4. Be creative. If you're not too comfortable in in-person situations (and no, not everyone is) or just don't have the time to do it, you can always start out by reaching out to people who are relevant to your chosen industry and engage with them online, and then ask them if they have a few minutes for you to pick their brain. That's still strategic networking, just done virtually. They won't be quite the same as in-person networking but it's a heck of a lot more effective than being just another applicant submitting a resume through the ATS (Ugh! Major eyeroll!).

5. Give value. Value could mean anything from sharing your thoughts on what the latest trends are, offering to connect others with those you may know, or contributing your skills in some way either by giving advice right then and there or later.

In my case, because of my past experience in marketing, I offered to handle the event-planning nitty-gritty for startup networking events and, thanks to my background in musical theater performance (See how valuable transferable skills are?), even host them.

6. Don't sell. You're there to be part of the community and get to know the people who make up that community. The notion that networking means sales is the main reason why most people are uncomfortable with networking. They think they have to sell. PLEASE DON'T! It's incredibly eew, for the same reason that you should not be asking for a job when you meet someone for the first time. (Obviously, I'm not talking about job fairs where yes, you do have to sell yourself to potential companies.)

7. Follow up. Send it-was-great-to-meet-you emails and LinkedIn connect requests to those you've met and engaged with at events and keep the convo going post-event. If you've engaged with people online instead of in-person, engage with their posts. Also, following up means that you keep showing up at upcoming events. The more people see you at these events, the more you develop a connection, and connections lead to more connection and more opportunities down the line.

8. Have fun. To be honest, I've been to networking events where it felt like everyone was trying to hawk something and everyone's under pressure to connect others in the group simply because. No offense to networking groups like that but while some people may like that, that's not my style and personally speaking, it takes the fun out of it. I prefer going to events where I can listen to a fireside chat, startup founders or a panel of experts, have casual convos during and after, and maybe walk over to a nearby bar for more post-event networking. Any kind of event where food involved is my kind of event because breaking bread breaks those barriers down. The point is, you're there not just because the end goal is to network your way into a better job and work your way up the career ladder, but because it's way better than sending out job applications.

If you need more tips on how to make strategic networking your own job search superpower, send me a connect request or inmail here on LinkedIn or head over to my website, www.careercoachdezzi.com where you can grab a free initial consultation.