Did you know? Bill Clinton is one of the best networkers the White House has ever seen.
Most high paying jobs are not advertised in the newspaper or even online. These jobs are found by individuals who know someone within the organization. To find most of the high paying jobs, it is necessary to have a social network of contacts that are aware of your skills and experience.
A social network is a group of individuals who have a connection to you, whether family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, students, and more. In simpler terms, it is a list of all the people you have ever met and all the people they know too.
In my social network, I have listed all of my relatives, friends, people with whom I’ve worked, college roommates, and more. Beyond that, my network also includes all the people that my relatives, friends, colleagues, roommates, etc, are connected to.
Having a social network gives me the opportunity to have “connections” to many organizations within my career field. I’m able to know of open jobs, or opportunities that wouldn’t be listed publicly.
There are many methods for creating a social network. They range from business card collecting to internet social networks such as LinkedIn.com and Facebook.com. The most common groups of people individuals are networked to include: family, friends, high school and college alumni, and business colleagues.
The most successful networkers are those who genuinely show concern and interest in the people they meet. They are helpful, considerate, and good humored.
Seven Tips for Social Networking
Questions:
1) What is a social network?
2) List seven tips for being a successful social networker.
3) Why is it important to cast a wide net when networking?
Application:
1) Create a social network of family, friends, colleagues, and more using the internet.
a) Write a list of all the people you have known in your life. Think of names, locations, and what you did with them. Use the sheet provided in the resource section. You’ll be using these names in the next two steps.
b) Create a LinkedIn Account. LinkedIn is the most popular career-based internet website. It provides the tools and resources to create a social network using the internet. It is the fastest and easiest way to connect to potential employers. Here is a link to their learning center. It’s the best start if you’d like some additional information about LinkedIn.
c) Create a Facebook account. Facebook is one of the most popular social networking websites being used today. It is used primarily as a hub for your to express to friends, family and colleagues who you really are. You’re able to upload photos, chat with friends, join clubs and groups, and have fun! You’ll be amazed as to how many of your friends are already on there.
d) Listed below are a few additional websites that you can use to reach out and find old contacts.
Classmates.com – reach out to old schoolmates from high school and college
Reunion.com – same as classmates but a different network.
InfoRegistry.com – an online resource to find the people you haven’t found on your own.
Peoplefinders.com – same as inforegistry.com.
2) Have fun and enjoy reaching out to everyone!
It’s not what you know but who you know that makes the difference. Anonymous
