Is Networking Really That Big of a Deal?

The short answer is Y-E-S! It is indeed, a very big deal! According to the Wall Street Journal,
94% of successful job seekers claimed that networking had made all the difference for them.

Networking comes in many forms -- everything from meeting an old friend for a cup of coffee to ask how she likes law school, to having your best friend's father put in a good word for you at his company, to meeting with an older alumni from your college to learn more about a career in social work to establishing an account on FaceBook or Twitter.

HOW DO I FIND PEOPLE WITH WHOM I CAN NETWORK?

There are many ways to identify networking contacts. Here are some places to find folks who know something about a field, an organization or a school you are considering:

-- Your college alumni association or career office networking lists
-- Your own extended family
-- Your friends' parents and other family members
-- Your professors, advisors, coaches, tutors, clergy
-- Your former bosses and your friends' and family members' bosses
--Members of clubs, religious groups and other organizations to which you belong
--All the organizations near where you live or go to school

WHAT CAN THESE NETWORKING CONTACTS TELL YOU?

1.They can tell you what it's really like--from their perspective, of course-to work in a given
field or organization. They can also tell you how the field has changed and what they see happening in the future.

2.They can help you understand the aptitudes and training needed to get into and be
successful in a particular area.

3. They can often provide the names of specialized schools and training programs.

4. They can give you "insider" information on an organization, such as who is in charge, what the culture is like, what kinds of people have held the job you're looking at, what it takes to succeed in that position, what new directions or changes might be taking place soon, how to customize your cover letter and resume to get noticed, how to market yourself effectively, and tips for interviewing.

5. They can be living demonstrations of what it's like to work in the field. Can you imagine
yourself actually doing what they do? Does the picture you imagine feel good or does it horrify you?

6. Every once in a while, the person with whom you're having an informational interview will
be able to help move your application along. But whether you get that offer or not, the nuggets of information you've gathered can be critical in helping you to sort out your options and present yourself more effectively.

Bottom line: learn how to network and get good at it: your next job depends on it!

Is Networking Really That Big of a Deal?

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