There is something about the word “networking” that alarms many people.  Especially if you are shy or dislike asking anyone for help, the thought of asking everyone you know for a job may seem intimidating and distasteful.  Networking is much more than that, however.  Networking allows you to maintain professional connections and keep up on what is happening in your industry, as well as find out about job openings and get advice on companies you are considering working for.

Here are a few suggestions on how to make job search networking easy and painless.

1) First things first: Prepare your resume.

Nothing is more embarrassing than being handed a job opportunity, and having to ask them to wait while you get your resume ready.  This step should be done right away, before you even start calling around.  That way, when someone says, “Send me your resume and I’ll give it to my boss,” you have it all ready to go.  You will be more likely to make a good impression if you are prepared.

2) Start with the people you know best.

Family and close friends are your best resource, and therefore the best place to start.  They know you better than anyone, and can be your biggest advocate in helping you to find a job.  Even if they don’t know of any job openings at their company, they may know of someone else who could help.  They are also easier to talk to than complete strangers, and can serve as a gentle introduction to networking.

3) Reconnect with old co-workers.

Old co-workers and bosses, business acquaintances, and others you have had contact with over the years are a good next step to job search networking.  Make a list of every old co-worker or work acquaintance you can think of, and cross them off the list as you get in touch with each one.

Since you do know these people, even if it has been a while, it should be easy enough to get in touch again.  If you don’t still have contact information such as phone numbers, a little detective work may help — for instance, you can sometimes find their email on their employer’s company website, and even if you can’t find it you may be able to guess what it is, based on other people’s email addresses on the site.  Most companies follow a reliable pattern when assigning employee email addresses.

Once you get in touch with your old co-workers, you can start out by asking how they’ve been and getting caught up on their career advancements and family news.  When the conversation turns to you, simply mention that you are looking for a job, and ask if they know of any openings or anyone else who could help.  Don’t worry about feeling like you are imposing on them — you are simply asking for information, and you will be surprised how many people are eager to help when they can!

4) Follow up on any leads you are given in a timely manner.

Don’t hesitate to follow any leads you are given.  Most likely your friend or acquaintance will tell the person whose name they’ve given you to be expecting your call, so if you wait too long you may fail to make that positive first impression that is so crucial to your success.

Don’t forget to add any names you are given to your list of contacts.  Even if they can’t help you find a job now, they might be able to help you in the future.

5) Attend networking events.

In addition to the job fairs you attend, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for local networking events in your industry.  Although your attendance may not directly result in a job offer, you will be meeting others in the industry who might be able to eventually help you find work.

Because it involves talking with strangers, this is the part of networking that many people have the most trouble with.  It may help to remind yourself not to think of it as asking someone for a job.  You are merely making friends who have similar career paths to your own, and who might eventually be a source of job leads.

6) Maintain your network.

Once you have created your network, it is very important to maintain it, even after you have found a job.  Jobs don’t last forever, and no matter how good everything seems now, you never know when you will be looking for another one!

Maintaining your network doesn’t have to be difficult.  You can send out the occasional email to old co-workers and contacts you have met through your networking efforts, just to check in and see how they are doing.  They also might be able to give you pertinent information about what is going on at their company or in other parts of the industry.  Just because you have found a job doesn’t mean you no longer need your network!

The Key to Networking

The key to successful job search networking is persistence and maintenance.  Think of networking as almost organic in nature: Start slowly, with the people you already know, and gradually allow your network to grow by following leads and making new contacts.  Don’t forget to maintain the contacts you’ve already made — remember, they are not strangers unless you don’t keep in touch!

Finding a Networking Group

Networking-only groups. There are active professional networking associations in every city, and they’re remarkably easy to find. Your local chamber of commerce is one of them, and chambers usually have networking events at least once a month. If you’re a professional, you probably hear about these groups at work all the time but may have dismissed them as a waste of your time or, even worse, intimidating. But these groups are a solid jumping off point for you to develop your network of associates.

Targeted networking groups. If you’re a woman or minority, there may be a business networking group in your area whose sole purpose is to promote your interests. Women’s professional organizations and groups based on ethnic or religious commonalities are set up specifically to help members showcase their companies and encourage associates to use each others’ services when possible.

A local or regional business-to-business magazine. Most of them are remarkably well done and are not only full of helpful business tips, but also plenty of advertisements for networking opportunities. A subscription is well worth the price and may even be a tax write-off.

Online sources. Today, most people conduct at least a portion of their business online. And for some professionals, a majority of their business comes from online sources. Many people cultivate their own online social network, but there are also sites such as LinkedIn set up exclusively to facilitate online networking.

The social scene. Everywhere you go is a networking opportunity. In social situations, one of the first questions people are asked is, “So, how’s the job going?” And most people say “fine” and leave it at that. But this is a perfect chance to network. You can slip in a little plug for yourself or your company (“We were just named the best company in the city to work for!”) and then follow it up with food for thought (“It’s really rewarding to help people get their finances in order. My clients are just regular people like you and me, but they’re all beginning to amass wealth now.”). You don’t want this to become so obvious that people start to avoid you for fear that you’ll try to hard-sell them every time they see you. But used judiciously, networking in social settings can lead to new opportunities and increased business for you.

Networking For Success

Leave your anxiety at the door. Confidence is essential in networking because people can’t tell what you’re nervous about—the situation at hand or your products and services. Either way, obvious nervousness isn’t attractive. Keep reminding yourself what a great service you’re doing for others by introducing them to your company.

Be specific. Especially when networking with people you don’t know, it’s best to be clear in your intent. Too many people are vague about their company and their goals because they don’t want to come off as rude or aggressive. But it’s impossible for a contact to help you if he doesn’t know what you’re after. Do you want information about a company? An introduction to his associate? To be kept in mind for a job opening? Just say it!

Keep in touch. If you only talk to or correspond with people when you need something, your contacts will disregard your attempts. Be sure to keep track of important dates (such as birthdays), and get in touch then. Or set up a lunch meeting once in a while with nothing on your agenda except saying hi.

It’s a two-way street. One of the most common mistakes people make in networking is forgetting that you have to scratch other people’s backs if you want them to scratch yours. The best relationships are ongoing ones, and if you take without giving, you’ll soon find yourself without contacts. Really pay attention to what people are saying about their own business and, when possible, give their services a try. You can bet they’ll remember and use your company’s services as well.

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