1. Know What You Want – Confidence and clarity are an absolute necessity when networking. People won’t know how to help you if you are not specific about what you are looking for.  When networking, you should easily be able to talk about who you are, what experience you have and what kinds of opportunities you are looking for. In addition, building  knowledge and enthusiasm about your field will help build your confidence making you more appealing to those who may be able to help.
2. Be Prepared – When meeting connections both in person and online, you will need an introduction, proof of your abilities and your contact information. You should prepare a clear, succinct introduction when meeting people, but also have the ability to talk about your work experience and skills in case a meeting turns into a screening interview. You will also want to exchange contact information, so you may follow-up with the person. Business card smartphone apps are becoming common, but you will also want to have a paper version available. Don’t forget to add any professional websites, blogs, online portfolios or social media accounts, like LinkedIn, to your business card and email signature.
3. Build Relationships – Arranging to follow-up with the connections you make is essential. Send an email, arrange a meeting or call them. They may not know of any opportunities at the moment or they may be busy, but if you build a relationship with them, they can “keep you in mind.” Social media sites, like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, are excellent for building a base of connections to interact with on a regular basis. Just make sure the relationship isn’t just one way. With any connection, you will want to listen, ask them questions and show interest in what they have to offer.

Take the time to really think about how these three key essentials apply to your situation and how you can utilize them when networking. For additional help, visit our Job Search – Networking for a Job tutorial.

Check out the following lessons from our Career tutorials for ideas:

• Career Planning: Assess Yourself and Your Needs - Are you unsure about what you are looking for or whether you are headed in the right direction? Being specific and confident in what you want can greatly increase your chances of success.
• Job Search: Strategies for Networking Effectively – Simply meeting a connection probably won’t land you a job, but knowing how to communicate and build a relationship with them might.
• Job Search: Follow-Up and Organization – Don’t just send that resume into cyberspace and hope for the best. Pursuing a job lead shows that you are really interested in a position and can impress potential employers.
• Job Search: Using Social Media – Knowing how to use social media in your job hunt can greatly increase your edge over the competition.
• Resume Writing: Linking to Online Profiles and Personal Websites – Adding a link to your personal websites and profiles can be very beneficial, but it is important to understand the advantages and precautions.
• Resume Writing: Emailing Your Resume – The majority of resumes are now being submitted electronically, therefore it is important to know the correct methods and formatting that will ensure your resume is seen by an actual hiring manager.
• Interview Skills: What to Prepare Before an Interview - The biggest mistake qualified applicants make is not preparing properly for a job interview. Learn how to research a company, how to dress appropriately and how to ask questions in order to make the best impression.

For even more ideas, visit our Career page for a complete list of our tutorials. Good luck with your search!

Take a look at the following two scenarios and think about which one you would be more willing to help:

1. Bob – “Even though I was the best programmer at my job, they still got rid of me.  The bills are piling up and if I don’t get a job soon I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
2. Jack – “Yes, I was part of a mass layoff, but it’s been a great opportunity for me to update some of my skills.  I’m now looking forward to finding a senior programming position.”

Bob sounds like a victim who is desperate and unsure, where as Jack sounds like he has made the best of the situation and knows exactly what he wants.  Bob may gain sympathy, but Jack is more likely to find success because he is confident in his ability and clear about what he is looking for.

Having the right attitude and mindset will make you feel better toward your job-hunt which will in turn help you portray a more optimistic and confident outlook when interacting with connections and pursuing opportunities.  To improve your mindset, think about the following:

• Finding a job takes longer then it use to. It takes on average five to eight months to get a job compared to three to six months in the past.  Prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the long haul to keep yourself from getting discouraged.

• Worrying will not help you. If your mind is set on all the negative paths that come with anxiety and worry then you are more likely to ignore and discount ideas and opportunities when they come along.

• New jobs are always available no matter what condition the economy is in. You simply need to figure out where these opportunities are and that can’t be done without an open and positive mindset.

• Know that you will need to use more than one job-hunting method. If all you do is send your resume to job postings, then you are severely limiting your possibilities.  Open your mind to more methods like networking and volunteering and you will see your opportunities increase.

• You have to be clear about what you want. Clarity produces confidence and makes it easier for people to help you.  Figure out exactly what you are looking for and then tell everybody you know.

Everyone knows how tough job-hunting can be, but that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable during the process.  Work on your mindset, live your life and the opportunities will present themselves.  For more help with job-hunting, visit our Job Search tutorial in Work and Career.

Job Search – Learn the latest methods for conducting an effective job search including how to approach finding a job, where to look and how to organize your leads.  We also show you how to efficiently search online job postings and how to use the latest social media tools for networking.  This tutorial will provide you with the inside information, resources and advice that will have you confidently pursuing your next job.

Career Planning – Smart people understand that career success often comes from thinking beyond just getting a job.  They take the time to figure out their needs and how they can approach the job market in order to meet their needs.  Even if you are currently employed, you can benefit from visiting our Career Planning course to map out your future success.

Interview Skills – Sometimes it is the small details that determine whether you are able to convey your ability to do a job into convincing others that you are the right person for the job.  Learn to impress with the preparation, communication and follow-up skills that will lead to a job offer.

Keep checking back as we continue to update Work and Career with the latest strategies and resources to help you with your career.

1. JobHuntersBible.com – This website from the “Father of Job-Hunting” Richard Bolles has a wealth of resources, but I would first recommend reading his annually updated guide “What Color is Your Parachute?” to learn the real secrets and best methods for finding a job.
2. Occupational Outlook Handbook – This website, from the Department of Labor, offers detailed information on hundreds of jobs including the skills and training needed, the future outlook of a job and what working conditions are like.  If you are looking for information about a particular job or career then this is the site to go to.
3. Salary.com – Whether you are simply researching a possible career or preparing for a job interview, every job-hunter should be knowledgeable about salary.   This site allows you to search the average earnings for the title, level and location of a job you are interested in.  It will even give you an estimate of what your weekly paycheck might be.
4. Job-Hunt.org – Just like the JobHuntersBible.com, this is a gateway site for finding resources and learning how to conduct a job search.  It includes articles, advice from the experts and strategies to assist the average job-hunter with staying up-to-date on the latest trends, methods and resources.
5. LinkedIn – As the most popular and rapidly growing social network for business, LinkedIn allows you to make online connections with other professionals.  This increases your ability to network which is generally considered the best way to find a job.  Before you create your professional online profile make sure you become familiar with issues regarding privacy.
6. Mashable - The use of online social media sites to network and find a job is quickly becoming the norm, but you may be feeling clueless about what these sites are and how you are suppose to use them.  Mashable is an online guide to social media.  It can help you utilize and make sense of the latest trends and strategies for using sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
7. Indeed.com – Unsure about which of the thousands of job posting sites you should use to search for a job.  Use Indeed.com instead.  Based on your search criteria, it pulls job postings from all the other job posting websites, making it easier and much more convenient to manage and apply to jobs.  You can even have a personalized job alert sent to your email on a regular basis.

For additional help, stay tuned!  We will be releasing a newly updated Job Search topic next week, but for now you can visit our Work and Career page for advice and tips.