Welcome to the Webinar MyWorkSearch - Network Successfully Presentation by: Jane Hatton
Aims of this webinar To understand what networking means and how to make it work for you To gain confidence in networking To prepare a networking strategy 2 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Programme What do we mean by networking? Benefits of networking Planning a strategy who do you know and who do they know? Networking with family and friends Face-to-face networking events Networking online Useful sites 3 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
What is Networking? Talking to people you already know Networking The opportunity to market yourself Using contacts to access opportunities Developing relationships with new people Exchanging information To potentially access the estimated 75% of jobs which are never advertised 4 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
But networking is hard I don t like talking to strangers I ve been to networking events and no-one talks to me I don t like talking about myself/my achievements I don t know anyone Won t people think I m big headed? I don t like to ask for favours from friends What do I say? 5 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
There are real benefits though Practise talking about your skills and experience Great practice for interviews Gain feedback to improve your interview skills It will expand your circle of contacts Your contacts will introduce you to their contacts You will gain greater access to the hidden job market Help to focus your job search campaign You will find out about hidden job possibilities So less competition It s an easy way of taking action and staying positive 6 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Remember: It is NOT asking for a job: The biggest mistake you can make The reason most people find it difficult It IS asking for and offering: Help, support and advice to progress your job search Understand your goals: A lead into an organisation Additional contacts with a particular expertise Gathering information Selling yourself People like to help people! 7 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Planning your networking Who do you already know? List the people you know, how you will contact them and what you will say How will you meet new people? Decide which networks you will join and how you will use them (If you feel uncomfortable, would you help a friend or colleague that was looking for work if they called you? Chances are they will help you too) 8 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Potential sources Friends Family Neighbours Professional Bodies Parents Colleagues Ex-Colleagues Hobbies Sports Clubs Customers Suppliers Public Bodies Charities Voluntary Work Networking Events Seminars Job Fairs/Conferences 9 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Example Jane Hughes (O2) Ellie Jones (WH Smiths) Ian West (Tesco) Jane West (HMV) Cycling Club PTA Family My network Work Colleagues Gym Friends Jim Spence (BT) Richard Gordon (don t know) Frank (Leicester Council) James Smith (Network Rail) 10 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Networking plan of action Contact Media When Aim Outcome Jim Spence Email 1 st September Recruitment contact Ellie Jones Telephone 14 th June Set up meeting On holiday call back early September Ian Smith Email 28 th August Pre-interview Referral from Jane in O2 11 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Networking with Family and Friends 12 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Networking with family and friends You can be more open about asking for help You can be more direct I m looking for a contact in the company you work for Could you pass on my CV/give me their telephone number/mention my name to your colleague, Fred? It s easier to follow up with your friends Often a good place to start You can achieve results quickly Don t dismiss anyone you don t know who they know! 13 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Networking in Offline Groups 14 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Starting conversations Ask questions Be positive Be specific about what you are looking for Take an interest in them Find out if you can help them Have a good elevator pitch ready 15 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Elevator pitch examples The company I worked for was taken over recently and there have been a lot of changes. This has given me the opportunity for a fresh start and to really develop my IT skills, ideally in companies that are working in new technologies. I ve worked in the marketing departments of a number of large successful companies, developing innovative ways to interact with customers, and I m now looking to use that expertise within a small service company 16 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Random tips Let other people speak listen to them Ask open questions Appear open and friendly Dress for the occasion Smile and make eye contact Have a firm handshake Ask and use their name Make the first move Offer help back Follow up 17 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Online Networking 18 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Joining networking groups Yes, there are many, many to choose from! Just pick a few you feel comfortable with you don t have to join them all 19 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Online networking Increasingly popular recruitment tool Potential for high coverage Take time to develop your profile(s) Be careful what you share! Possibly keep two separate accounts (but both will be searchable) Be consistent across different sites Protect ID and passwords 20 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
The main players Linkedin Great profiles can be written You can give and receive recommendations Over 190 million members in over 200 countries Option to expand your network through your contacts Widely used by employers for business opportunities and recruitment You can post updates and comments, join groups and update your profile as often as you want to keep publicising your skills and experience The most popular and widely used tool of its type 21 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
The main players Facebook The largest online network in the world with over 1 billion users Started as a social network but has increasing business usage Many organisations and business-people maintain a Facebook page Twitter Over 140 million active users Follow and interact with people who share your areas of interest 22 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Best of the rest Blogger and Wordpress Free web space to produce your blog and online CV Google+ Fast growing network from Google Opportunity to engage with specific communities Easy to separate business and personal Quora A knowledge based network where you can collaborate and share with those who have similar interests 23 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Final thoughts There is no substitute for speaking to people Don t network to ask for a job Make contacts and connections Offer help as well as asking for it Be selective when using online networks Stick to a few and manage your time on them Be selective when choosing people to link with Apply the Givers Gain philosophy Those that share and give will develop more fruitful relationships Have a plan for any networking activity 24 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Useful web addresses www.linkedin.com www.facebook.com www.twitter.com http://plus.google.com www.meetup.com/ www.quora.com www.ecademy.com www.blogger.com www.wordpress.com www.bni.eu/uk www.4networking.biz 25 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Visit the Advice Centre 26 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit
Thank you for attending A link to download the slides will be emailed to you after the webinar To book on future webinars please see the Web training section in the Advice Centre Feedback is always welcome Please email us at webinar@myworksearch.co.uk with your comments or suggestions (include the webinar name in the subject) 27 MyWorkSearch The UK s most powerful online jobseeker s toolkit