Jack Erdlen, president of a human resource consulting firm near Boston stated, "Networking is certainly very important, and it gets even more important in a tight labor market." He also mentioned, "Companies are scrutinizing their potential hires more closely, so the person who comes to them directly, or through a friend, has a better chance because they're looking to keep costs down." Networking can connect you to the people who make the hiring decisions.

How to make networking work for you:

1) Make a list of people you know who are in a position to provide you with employment or career information. Ask them for career/job search advice and to refer you to people they know who may be in a position to help you.

Good resources are:

Friends, Neighbors, Classmates, and Relatives
Current and Former Employers
Professors, Teachers, Coaches, or Advisors
Members of church, clubs or professional associations

2) Initiate contact with individuals through informational interviewing.

Use your networking resources to develop contacts with professionals in your career field and interview them regarding career opportunities.

3) A good networking pace is two new contacts each day. By the end of the first week you will have initiated 10 contacts. Rejection is part of the process; you must learn how to handle it and continue your search. Networking is effective, it will work with patience and persistence.

Networking Resources
The Riley Guide - Networking, Interviewing, & Negotiating	MonsterTRAK - Networking & You
Pennsylvania Professional Employment Network (PAPEN) Pittsburgh-based networking organization . Includes lob leads and job search links.

Informational Interviewing

What can you do if your contact or networking list is not very developed, and how can you fully utilize the contacts you do have? One of the key components in networking is informational interviewing, which is an information-gathering and advice-seeking interview in which you ask the questions.

Begin by targeting individuals on your networking list who can connect you with people who are in a position to provide advice and/or job leads in your career area. Then contact those people to set-up an informational interview.

When calling to schedule an appointment make sure to introduce yourself, indicate the person who referred you, state the purpose for seeking an appointment, and give a short synopsis of your background and career interest. Request 20-30 minutes of the individual's time and prepare interview questions in advance.

What to say:

"Hello, my name is ________, and I'm a (student/alumnus) from Gannon University. I (was given your name by____ /found your company through____). Do you have a few moments?

I would like to conduct a brief information interview with you to discuss (industry, jobs, professions). Do you have time on _____(date/time)?

Yes, I'm available at that time also. I will see you on ____ at ____. Thank you for your time."

For the interview be sure to dress appropriately, arrive on time, and be prepared to initiate the conversation, since you are the interviewer.

Questions to Ask: Open-ended questions are most beneficial; try to avoid "yes" or "no" questions. You may want to rehearse these questions to increase your readiness.

Career Field Questions:

How did you get involved in this occupation?

What is a typical day like?

What challenges have you faced in your career field?

What rewards do you get from working in this occupation?

What jobs are good starting points for this career field?

What skills and qualifications are needed to qualify for this career?

What type of person succeeds in this career?

What are some of the problems or frustrations encountered in this occupation?

How will this occupation change in the next five years?

What is the job outlook?

What is the best way to get experience or develop skills for this occupation?

What are some related occupations?

Is there any personal advice you can give to someone entering this occupation?

Is there anyone else I could talk to about this type of work? May I use your name?

Follow-up

Career experts believe this is as vital as the informational interview itself. After each interview make sure to send a thank you note and keep the individual posted on your progress. If you have not discussed your background with the individual in great detail, you may send a copy of your resume with the note. If any of the informational interviews result in a formal interview, consider tailoring your resume to the needs or specific duties of the company. It's not always what you know, it's who you know that will help you find a job.

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