Networking Your Way to Your Next Position
by D'Valerie N. Travis
[Reprinted with the permission of LAPA Reporter.]

It's Monday morning and you've just opened the Daily Journal. You look through the classified section and spot your perfect job! Immediately, you e-mail a copy of your resume, the one without typos or graphics (a major no-no) and you wait for their all, and you wait, and wait, and wait. You really want to call to see if they've received your resume, but the ad said in big bold letters NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Instead of calling, you send another copy of your resume. Its very likely that one of three things may have occurred. Chances are that on the same Monday morning that you saw your perfect job advertised, there were at least one hundred other paralegals with the same credentials and skills that responded to the same ad, several recruiters called to offer their help in filing the position, or a woman called who just so happens to be a neighbor to have all of the experience required for the job. Whose resume do you think would make it to the recruiter's desk first? If you guessed the lucky neighbor you're right, because she networked.

Networking is simply talking to people. People are usually happy to help others if they can. When you are looking for your next job, you must exhaust every resource that is available to you. Thousands of people look at the ads on the Internet, hundreds of people respond to newspaper ads, and many people send resumes in response to ads featured on a company's job line. When you have a contact that you've networked with, you become a small part of an elite network of professionals with whom that person is in touch. First, make a list of all of the people who you can talk to. These people do not need to be friends or even acquaintances, just  anyone with whom you have enough of a common thread to initiate a conversation. Using this definition of networking, most people should have hundreds, even thousands of contacts. Please be clear about what you're looking for from them because they will appreciate knowing up front why you are contacting them.

Speak to each of them about your goals and ask for referrals in that field. Introduce yourself to each of the people to whom you are referred and ask for a meeting. Meet with them BRIEFLY and explain your goal, and ask for more referrals. Keep narrowing this list down until you've gotten to the people who know about the type of jobs you are looking for. Make it easy for them to help you. Don't ask them if they know of any jobs. Rather, ask for any tips, leads or suggestions that they may have. If they know of a job, they will mention it to you.

Finally, here is a little test to rate your networking skills. Please answer 'yes' or 'no' to each question:

1. At my organization's last networking event, I started a conversation with someone I didn't know.
2. I often greet people that I don't know when I'm waiting in line.
3. I've volunteered to speak at a meeting of my professional association.
4. I initiate follow-up with people I meet at networking events.
5. I send holiday cards to my networking contacts.
6. I belong to a professional organization, and I've volunteered to serve on its committees.
7. I always carry my business cards with me, even on vacation.
8. I've submitted suggestions for improvement within my organization.

If you answered 'yes' to every statement, you know how to network successfully. If you said 'no' to some, you need to brush up on your networking skills and go out there and get that job.