Building a network while looking for a job

As Mark says, network with the janitor as well.   Dig up old contacts using facebook and Linkedin to "reconnect" and do it genuinely.  Invariably, the conversation will include what you "do for a living now" and your availability can be shared and even explored.  You will find more people looking as you are than you expect and those opportunities to help them may benefit you as well.  Also, read the book by Gitomer "Little Black Book of Connections, 6.5 assets..." and do what he tells you.   Copy your outlook contacts list now, paper or electronically.  You will want it in 2 months.

This might be coloured by the fact that I'm a High I (and a parent of young kids) - but I wouldn't mind being contacted to help you out.  More than likely, I'd get your e-mail or phone call & think "why haven't I kept in touch with you?" and not worry about the time in between. 

I find that time passes so quickly these days that I don't realize we haven't talked for 4 years (& my first was still in diapers).  If I have an opportunity in mind, I'll steer you to it.  Otherwise, I'll keep an ear open. 

Keep your audience in mind when you write the request - don't just send a blanket e-mail, send personal ones.  

Michelle

7-7-2-1

Hi, Before searching for a job I would like to ask my frinds for updating me information about job vacancy regarding to my current profile.

 Contact the people you used to know to remake the connection.  Yes, it can be difficult.  I've done it and found it excruciatingly difficult and embarrassing (what do you say to someone in 2010 who you haven't spoken to since 1994?).  Part of why I struggled may be because I'm really low on the i part of of DISC (I'm 6137) but then I discovered that you don't have to be good at being sociable, you have to be good at acting like you're good at being sociable.  After a while the act comes naturally.

If possible/appropriate use sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter &c to remake the contact.  Just remember, your social Network friends are not your Network, although there may be a large overlap and they can a good way of finding topics of conversation for your 'Keep In Touch' conversations.  Maybe try your University's Alumni association, see if their website has a "What ever happened to...?" section and have your details posted as wanting to get back in touch.

When making contact I'd recommend not opening with a request for help finding work unless you have definite information that they may be able to help you.  If you hear that Widgets R Us have an opening for your skill set and you discover that someone you know works there then you're probably OK mentioning that and how you'd really appreciate any advice they can give you.  Contacting someone with "Hey I need help finding work so thought I'd call you even though we haven't spoken for years." will almost certainly result in a strong 'No!'.  If they can't immediately think of a job they know of to tell you about they may say no so they won't be wasting your time, presuming that's the only reason you've made contact.  Also for a lot of people will have negative reaction to being asked for something very early in the relationship.  It's natural and based around first impressions lasting.  If the first time we meet in a long time you ask  me for something then my automatic presumption is that every time we meet you're going to ask me for something because every time we've met you've asked me for something.

If I might use an analogy, suppose you're at an event and bump into someone you vaguely know, maybe a friend of a friend of a friend or the partner of a colleague.  You're aware they work in insurance, actually they sell it.  Are they going to make a good impression if they grasp your hand and start off with "Hi, I'm Bob!  I work for Acme Insurance, what coverage do you have?  Here's my card, hope we can do business!"?  Probably not, and that's how you come across if you make and ask on your first contact to reconnect.  Now imagine that instead they shake your hand and start off with "Hi, I'm Bob.  Sorry, I don't think I caught your name." then, after you've supplied your name, asks about you and what you do.  Likely to give a much better impression,I think.  So, when later they happen to mention they work in insurance and as you part hand you their card 'just in case you need to talk to me any time',  your defences aren't up and if you are looking to buy insurance or someone mentions they're looking for insurance you're probably going to think of them and think "Call Bob!"

 So, make contact (no matter how painful it is), show an interest in them and make the contact, talk about what you're doing and later ask for advice or suggestions.

Finally, just because you don't know someone yet doesn't mean you can't network with them.  Like DPWADE said, network with the janitor, although not just the janitor.  You never know when someone might just happen to hear something and mention it to you.  For example, the janitor or one of the security staff might hear that another department or another company in the same building is hiring.

Stephen

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Skype: stephenbooth_uk

DISC: 6137

Experience is how you avoid failure, failure is what gives you experience.