Top Networking Tips That Will Help You Land A Job This Year

The importance of networking in order to land your dream job cannot be emphasized enough. You need to have connections in your chosen field in order to do well and grow in it. This doesn’t mean that all you need to succeed in your career are networks, if anything your networks are just a way to get you in. The rest is up to you.
There are various types of networks and various ways you can meet them. The trick to having good connections though, is knowing what connections will be beneficial to you and which ones won’t and vice versa.

Networks you can use to get a job

Here are a few examples, of networks you could use in order to find a job.
1. Former employers
This will only work if there is no bad blood between you and your former bosses. Former employers can be very helpful in terms of being able to recommend you to some of their friends who are looking to hire.
This means that even if you are quitting a job, you should ensure that you do not do it in a manner that destroys your relationship with your boss. This way even if you contact that person they will be willing to help you.
2. Recruitment Firms
Nowadays most companies use recruitment firms to fill positions they have. So this is a great place to start networking.
Go to their websites, call them and subscribe to their email alerts. This will ensure that whenever they post a job you get notification because being the first to apply increases the chances of having your CV looked at.
Not only that, but recruitment firms can even assist you with CV and Cover Letter writing, Interview Coaching  as well as Career Coaching where you get tips on how to apply for and get jobs.
Networking is a two way process and you should not expect to be the only one to benefit from that relationship. When it comes to networking events, people make mistakes that may seem small but in the end ruin your chances at getting to know people.

Here Are Some Of The Networking Mistakes

1. Avoiding face to face contact
In a networking event,you will get to meet a lot of people from diverse backgrounds. This means that you have to introduce myself to people regardless of whether you are an outgoing person or not.
When you are in such an event, make a point of talking to one or two strangers and always portray confidence. This will ensure you get the contact details of people who can help you in your job search.
2. Being too self centered
Networking is about forming mutually beneficial relationships. If you are too focused with yourself instead of others, you are not doing it right. When you meet someone, ask them questions and avoid dominating the whole conversation. It is fine to answer questions they have about you, but don’t dwell so much on yourself.
You should also not only focus on how the people there will help you but also how you can help others as well. When you help people they will more inclined to help you as well.
3. Not meeting enough people
Instead of than having long discussions with just a few people, you can opt to schedule follow-up meetings with them and then proceed to meet more people.
By meeting a variety of people, it can be easy to make a decision on which contacts will be beneficial in your career and which won’t and also it will never hurt to have more connections.
These are just but some of the mistakes people make that end up ruining there chances of getting good networks that could help you get a job.
SEE ALSO >>> 5 Proven Ways of Building Value-Adding Networks 
Having networks does not refer to having god fathers who help you get jobs even though you are not qualified, networks are there to help open door for you and then it is up to you to prove that you are skilled enough in order to get the job.
By Michelle Wanjiku