5.7 Electronic Networking
The importance of networking
Networking is a work search skill which helps you build
relationships with people you know. Some of these relationships will be
personal (like family and friends). Some of them will be on a
professional basis (like co-workers, other students in your program, or
members of associations you belong to).
As we move into the 21st century, having a
supportive and extensive network of contacts is essential if you're to
find and keep work. Because the labour market is becoming fragmented,
with people working in many different ways, a personal network of
contacts to support your career development is more important than ever.
The Globe and Mail reported in May, 1998, that a
survey of 18,000 working Canadians aged 22 to 24 found that more than
one-third had "personal networks" to thank for finding a job.
Electronic Networking
Margaret Dickel offers an excellent overview on how to
use the Internet for effective networking. Check out her article Networking
and Your Job Search.
Here are some additional hints to help you improve
your e-networking skills:
- When you meet new contacts in your networking
activities, you should always ask for and keep their business card.
If the card includes an e-mail address, be sure to follow up with a
brief e-mail message to your contact acknowledging your meeting and
expressing appreciation for the time spent with you.
- Share information with your network using e-mail.
On a regular basis, if you come across interesting websites, notes
from listservs, conference announcements, professional development
activities, etc., take time to pass the information along.
- Always thank your contacts for information they've
shared or passed on to you. Remember that networking is all about
building shared and supportive relationships.
- Create an electronic address list of all the
contacts you make. You can use a program like Microsoft Outlook or Maximizer
to organize your contacts.
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