Is Networking Part of Your Job Search? It Should Be

Chances are, you already know that networking is an essential component to climbing the career ladder. What far too many job seekers overlook is the fact that networking should start long before you take a position and set up your desk. In fact, career networking is actually one of the fastest ways to land a satisfying job and it's much easier to do than you think.

In periods of economic downturn, common sources for job leads like newspapers, online classifieds and even temp agencies tend to dry up. Scarcity is the opportunity savvy job seekers use to turn to other sources for employment, including conferences, event mixers and interest groups. From church to that pottery class you've always wanted to take, the potential venues for career networking are endless. The most important factor in choosing the right career networking event is to look for a place where you can connect with other professionals over shared interests. Even non-professional events can serve this purpose. While that nice woman you meet playing doubles tennis might not be looking to hire a graphic designer, there is always a good chance she knows someone who is.

Time is another major factor in networking for a new job. Unemployed job seekers should maximize the time spent at networking events, treating the networking process as a full-time job. Likewise, switching from one industry to another requires a significant increase in time spent career networking. However, job seekers who are already employed may have to scale back their time spent networking. Networking within the same industry while you are still employed can be a tricky situation to navigate, and it is extremely important to manage your professional reputation while doing so. Make sure that your networking efforts are kept a clandestine affair, because if an employer finds out that you're eager to jump ship, it could damage the perception their colleagues and your potential employers have of you.

Careers 24 explains that one of the most important thing job seekers can do is to follow up with their networking contacts. Once you make contact with a professional in the industry you want to be in, don't lose the momentum gained from that great conversation. Follow up with career networking contacts in small, thoughtful ways such as sending them a thank-you note for their time or cluing them in on other networking events. Even if a networking contact is not an immediate source of employment information, the best resources for job seekers come from long-term contacts.

Networking should be a priority for all job seekers, and keeping an open mind about when and where to meet these potential contacts can go a long way toward landing the perfect job. From attending industry events to expanding your social circle, career networking is as essential to the modern job search as writing up the perfect resume.

(Photo courtesy of (suphakit73)/ freedigitalphotos.net)