Networking Made Easy: Success Tips Intro

YOU'VE HEARD IT BEFORE: At least 70% of all jobs are found through the "hidden" job market. These are jobs landed typically by word of mouth and referrals as opposed to the common hit-or-miss method of answering ads, posting your profile or resume to internet networking databases, or other techniques meant to target the remaining 30% of all jobs in the published job market. It stands to reason that if the vast majority of the jobs are to be found in this "hidden" market, you should spend the majority of your time working to crack into it. But as you may have reasoned already, tapping into the hidden job market requires that you take charge of your search by reaching out(networking in general) and building strategic relationships, taking proactive initiative, and making yourself visible in the right circles. This of course requires that you use networking strategies, and for many the thought of networking leaves them feeling nervous and unsure; for an introverted or shy person, the idea of networking can even cause serious anxiety and fear! But what IS networking, exactly? If you believe, like many people do, that networking is simply approaching everyone you know asking for a job or offering something, it's no wonder you may feel some of these same feelings about networking or worse! Fortunately, that isn't what networking is about at all. True networking is about carefully building strategic relationships that involve a win-win, reciprocal exchange of information, support, and/or referrals. When defined in this way, networking ceases to be so scary :D! However, this new definition requires that you expand your view of networking. No longer is it something you just do every now and then when conducting a job search or hunting down leads; building and strengthening your network is something you should be doing ALL the time. In our next blog entry, we will give you some great tips on how you can do just that and more. Keep this "new" idea of networking in mind as you build your network and watch it grow,grow,grow. Happy networking and see you @ our next entry! ~Daniel & The Silver Static Team