Tips for Building Your Professional Network

Networking is the most critical component of the job search process. In today’s market, more than 80 percent of available positions are unadvertised. They are found and filled through networking. By interacting face-to-face with other professionals in your target industry, you will ultimately find out about more opportunities. Employee referrals and internal candidates continue to be a growing source of new hires.
Networking Tips:

• Stay connected to your professional network.
• If you don’t have one, build a network. Informational interviewing is a valuable strategy in the networking process. The purpose of an informational interview is to gain insight directly from professionals in your field of choice, while making new contacts. LinkedIn is a powerful tool in the networking process (research professionals in your industry, geographic region, fellow UK alumni, individuals working for a company of interest, and professional role models).
• Nurture existing relationships and purposefully seek out new contacts.
• Get comfortable telling your contacts what you need, as well as what kinds of problems you can solve, highlighting your strengths.

If you’re in career transition, networking is your job. People with developed networks get more opportunities and land on their feet faster after a job loss.