Networking for success

The age-old adage is true! "It's not what you know, it's who you know"Not everyone is a natural networker, but it makes sense to develop this skill.

10 Tips For Successful Networking 

  1. Start small, try talking to people you see everyday. Talk about topics such as the weather or sport. Build your confidence slowly.
  2. Get involved in what is going on in the world. Arm yourself with current and interesting information. This allows you to talk about a broad range of subjects.
  3. Be an advert for yourself. Get a haircut, buy a new suit, polish your whole image not just your shoes! First impressions count.
  4. Think of networking as not just a way of finding hidden job opportunities. You will also increase your self-confidence, make yourself more marketable and you could even make some new friends.
  5. Tell everyone you meet (apart from, maybe, your current boss!) that you are looking for a job. There are many ways of communicating this, depending on who it is you are telling.
  6. Update your CV in preparation. It would be embarrassing if you were offered an interview for your dream job and were not able to produce a CV to show your prospective employer.
  7. You may want to carry a copy of your CV and a Covering Letter with you on a floppy disc or post it online at www.cvmastercareers.co.uk giving you the ability to access and print your CV from anywhere with internet access.
  8. The Internet is an excellent search tool for networking and finding a job. You could try using an online CV distribution service to send your CV to recruiters.
  9. Consider updating your Skills. www.hero.ac.uk has a comprehensive list of universities and colleges in the UK. If you require vocational training consider www.learndirect.co.uk
  10. Join a social networking site such as Facebook. Recruitment vis social networks is rapidly becoming more popular.