Members of Your Network
- Current and Former Co-Workers: Those you currently work with as well as those you've worked with in the past can be part of your network.
- Professional Associations: Don't just join them. Become an active member, by serving on committees. this gives your colleagues can see you in action.
- Friends and Family: Your brother-in-law's uncle's cousin may be a recruiter in your field. Keep your family and friends apprised of your career goals.
- Former Professors and Instructors: Your former professors and instructors were most likely professionals in your field. Some probably still are.
- Former Classmates: The alumni directory of your college (and of your fraternity or sorority, if it applies) can provide you with contacts to add to your network.
How To Keep Your Network Alive
After you establish your network, you will need to keep it alive. If you don't, you may be disappointed to find that it's not there when you need to access it. This is fairly easy and just requires a little bit of your time. To keep your network alive stay in touch with your contacts, apprising them of your job changes, promotions and any other career-related news. Provide help when your contacts ask it of you. When someone gives you a job lead or a reference, always send a thank you note. Attend professional meetings and conferences.Online Networking
There are Web Sites that provide online networking opportunities, but some should be used with caution. For example, LinkedIn is a good option because it is used for business networking, while Facebook and MySpace, may not be as good since many people use them primarily for social networking. When networking for career purposes, one should take care to put forth a professional image.What To Do If You're Shy
Some of us, by nature, find it very difficult to approach people. How do you network, if just saying hello to a stranger sends shivers up your spine? The experts say that you shouldn't change your personality and suddenly become outgoing. You should put yourself in situations where you will have the opportunity to meet people. For example, doing volunteer work will give people a chance to see you in action and possibly approach you. This will also give you the opportunity to establish rapport with others.
