Job Search and Networking

Build relationships

How you conclude your first meeting with a new contact is vital to building an effective relationship. Even if your encounter is brief, make sure you leave it with a request to keep in touch, either by meeting again in person or connecting online through email or social media.

Remember, networking is a long-term investment that requires time and persistence. Most of the connections you make will not have anything to offer you initially. By politely following up with your contacts, you'll be able to develop a relationship over time. The stronger your relationships, the more likely it is that your connections will think of you when opportunities arise.

We'll talk more about online networking in our module, Job Hunt with Social Media.

Networking resources

• Business cards
  Believe or not, paper business cards are still a great way to share your contact information quickly and easily. Your business card should be simple, with your basic contact information and a concise personal statement, such as a shorter version of your elevator pitch (no more than a few sentences). If you feel comfortable using new technologies, you might consider using a mobile app like CardMunch instead, which allows you to share a digital version of your business card and take a picture of other people's cards for later reference.
• Networking log
  You'll need to make sure you have an organized system for maintaining and tracking your connections so you can effectively follow up and maintain contact. You can create your own networking log or use a free online tool like JibberJobber, which allows you to save information about different networking contacts and stay organized as you build your network.