Find a job through your network

The economy is growing but still it is often difficult to find a job in your field, that offers you the challenge and opportunities you are looking for. There networking comes in.

Recent figures show that 71% of job searchers found their new job via informal channels. The reason is simple: there are many hidden vacancies. From the moment that somebody leaves his job until that vacancy is in a newspaper or show up at the Internet it is hidden. That period is normally between 2 and 4 weeks. So when you are able to contact organisations in that timeframe and you have the capabilities they are looking for in most cases you are the successful candidate.

How do you do that? Talk to the ca. 500 people you know and let them know what you are looking for. They all know also 500 people each so in one circle around you there ca. 250.000 people. It is most likely that you will find the job you are looking for there.

In networking there are three different stages. First you start (further) building your network. The best way of doing that is meeting people in informal settings like (sport) clubs, local politics, receptions etc. Don’t go to far away. Near you there is much more then you think. Show real interest in people and try to remember interesting point about them. But also try to communicate something interesting about yourself. Why: you must make it easy for people to remember you as well. So think of something that is special about you and make sure that you communicate that in every conversation you have. For example: I spend at least 20 weeks a year on the island Schiermonnikoog. I always tell that to people. Afterwards they ask: did you have a good time on Ameland but that is not important. They remember me and an island.

Then the second stage. Networking is the game of information and referral. Never ask for a job or an order. You always ask for advice. Queen Victoria already said: ‘all is vanity’ and she was right. Everybody is more than happy to give advice. When someone calls you, and ask for you advice: what do you do? You give it! Referrals are a different thing though.  People only give names of their friends and associates to you if they have the feeling that you will not embarrass them – that you will tell a good story. The building of that good story starts with the first impression. In the first 30 seconds of meeting a person for the first time people make up their mind up about you. During the rest of the conversation they seek reasons to show themselves their first impression was right. So it is essential that you work on your first impression. You can do that by being on time, look fit, smile, give a good handshake, say your name clearly, have a good opening sentence, well-groomed, etc.  So you ask for advice and after they gave you that you say: ‘very interesting – can you tell me who to talk to further about this?’  And of course you ask if you may mention the name of the person you talked to.

The thirst stage is network maintenance. Although you know a lot of people, you KNEW much more people. Those are the people you never see anymore. Not that you are angry with them: they just faded away in the mist. They to come up with something to maintain your network. The best way to do that is organise something so you meet with more people at once. That saves time. There are of course many ways of doing that. Have a party, go with a group of people to a museum, have a running dinner etc.

Networking is a lot of work, but in today’s society it is necessary to find jobs, work and many other things you need.

To learn more about networking turn to Riff Advies. Riff Advies is a small flexible training- and consulting firm. We work in the following areas: 

-people networks

-creativity in business

-outplacement (via Lee Hecht Harrison – Amsterdam and Eindhoven)

In the field of people networks we have three products:

- a keynote speech of 75 minutes.

- a half day workshop

- a whole day workshop

In the last two cases several exercises are included. For all three products a version geared towards the labour market or for a commercial audience are available.

We work, when necessary, with a team of five trainers from all over the country in the Dutch and English language

More information: 

Gerard D. de Gier

Tel. 0345 – 570733

www.riffadvies.com