“Networking”: the term is everywhere in job search advice, but how exactly do you go about it? Get started with these three pointers:
1. Connect
The first step in any networking endeavor is to meet and establish relationships with others in your industry. To do so effectively, you need to consider three questions:
What am I looking for? A network’s size does not determine its worth. Social media has made it possible to form hundreds of associations overnight, but keeping in touch with them all is impossible. Instead, meet as many people as possible, and narrow it down by value later. Ask yourself questions like:
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Who should I add first? Think back to the apprenticeship, training, or relevant coursework that prepared you for your career. Contact mentors and professors, especially those who inspired or pushed you to succeed. Then look up your peers from that time and reconnect with those whose current positions are relevant to your job search.