Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve

Chapter 40. Networking Is Not Part of Your Job Search— Networking Is Your Job Search

You're now ready to begin networking with people who can help you reach the hiring managers inside your target companies. Networking can be done over the phone, in person, via e-mail, or even over a cup of coffee or lunch. The main thing to remember is that, in general, people want to help others.

Networking makes most people feel good about themselves. It boosts their self-esteem to connect people with opportunities—especially when those opportunities are hard to come by—and it makes them feel important. The bottom line is that these people really are quite important to your career success. (Just as you may have been very important to the career success of others in the past—and certainly will be again in the future.)

Note

The main thing to remember is that, in general, people want to help others.

No matter what the unemployment headlines say, don't ever let up on your networking efforts. More than 80 percent of my clients land great jobs through their networks. So, it's not worth risking those odds to not be continually networking during good economic times and bad, whether you love your job or you're out of work. Networking should be the primary focus of everything you do. The quantity and quality of your networking time is directly related to the personal, professional, and financial satisfaction you'll have in your current job or your next job, and for the rest of your professional life.

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