Networking has always been one of the most successful ways of finding a job. With the addition of career networking tools from the Internet, it's becoming even more popular.
The New York Times reports on the "new networkers": People looking for the next job while they still have one. Katherine Wu is an executive at NBC Universal, a member of 85Broads and networks every chance she gets. "I equate this to dating," Ms. Wu said. "Networking is a basic numbers game. If you don't get out, you won't meet as many people." As Janet Hanson, former Goldman Sachs executive who founded 85Broads observed, "People are worried about where the next job will come from even before they lose their old one."
Networking isn't just for jobholders worried about a lay-off. College grads need to network just to get started and compete for a position. "There's a mind-set that there aren't jobs," said Lois Meerdink, director of business career services at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. "There are, but there are fewer positions, so (students) have to work much harder and outwork their competition." ColoradoDaily.com [from an article originally located at http://www.coloradodaily.com/news/2009/apr/06/college-grads-real-world-bad-economy-jobs/] reports on using college services and service organizations as a way to expand an initial job network.
Job skills are one thing, networking skills to find a job is another. Opportunities to learn these skills abound. Online sites like About.com provide valuable advice on basic networking. AOL Coaches [from an article originally located at http://coaches.aol.com/business-and-career/jocelyn-greenky-herz/networking-skills] offer advice on developing networking skills and preparing for a job interview once the networking starts to pay off with interviews. Business Management Daily offers encouragement and advice when it says "You can learn to network like a pro".
Job networking events can be found around almost every corner. In Quakertown, PA, the Upper Bucks Organizing for Jobs organization holds bi-weekly job networking workshops. Yahoo Finance [from an article originally located at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Three-New-Training-Seminars-prnews-14513232.html] reports that Falls Church, VA debuted three new training seminars just last month, and for those who couldn't attend, the sessions are available on YouTube. EVLiving.com reports on an all day Job Network Boot Camp for people conducting job searches. In Milwaukee, Examiner.com lists a series of repeating job networking events for the employed and the unemployed. In Freeport, Illinois self-marketing was the major topic of the Highland Community College Job Fair Prep, according to The Journal-Standard of Freeport.