Read more: 鈥�Graduate Special 2013鈥�
Networking is a tedious exercise best left to brown-nosers, right? Well, it can certainly be boring, but the fact is that between 60 and 80 per cent of people find work through networking. If you apply for a job without a face-to-face meeting, 鈥測ou鈥檙e just a piece of paper floating out there鈥�, says Safani. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like the difference between playing the lottery and putting your money in a high-yield savings account.鈥�
Safani reckons it鈥檚 best to start networking while you are still at university and have professors, career advisors and events with guest speakers within arm鈥檚 reach 鈥� and all for free. If you have already left university, says de Grunwald, 鈥渟tart by asking everyone you know whether they know anyone in your field who you could contact for advice. Then start going to events 鈥� talks, launches, careers fairs 鈥� and get talking to people.鈥�
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Of course, the real challenge is the networking itself. 鈥淲hatever sleuthing you can do before the event to gain an understanding of who鈥檚 there, the better,鈥� says Safani. The idea is to have meaningful conversations with two or three people you think might be able to help you 鈥� a more successful technique than a blanket approach.
Once you introduce yourself, the key is to keep the stakes low. 鈥淣ever ask them directly for a job, it鈥檚 a bit off-putting,鈥� says de Grunwald. Use the conversation to glean information rather than ask a favour. When talking to guest speakers or lecturers, 鈥渟ay that you have read that person鈥檚 work, or something that acknowledges what they鈥檝e done,鈥� says Safani.
Follow up the conversation by reaching out with a LinkedIn connection request. When you do send a message, it should be personalised, not the standard LinkedIn invite. And don鈥檛 try using a joke, advises marketing consultant . 鈥淵ou want to keep the tone friendly, but not by using humour or anything like that, because everyone鈥檚 humour is different.鈥�
By gradually warming up the relationship, you鈥檒l be in a good place to ask for guidance. 鈥淢ost people are OK with that, and actually kind of like being asked,鈥� says Safani. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very different conversation from, 鈥楬ey, do you know who鈥檚 hiring?'鈥�
Snake
At networking event鈥�
Graduate: Hi there, I just graduated and I鈥檓 looking for a job in engineering. Are you hiring?
Professional who鈥檚 just given a talk: Uh, not right now. [Moves away]
Later, on LinkedIn鈥�
Graduate email subject: Charles, please add me to your LinkedIn network.
Inside email: Hi Charles, would it be possible to 鈥渆ngineer鈥� a meeting to discuss jobs? :)
Professional: [Sighs. Deletes email]