Networking can help you get the right job

Networking is one simple trick that can increase your odds of landing a job you want rather than just having any job.

While hours spent at the computer on job hunting seem like a lot of work, admit it you have no control over the results. You search job boards, advertisements and so on, and simply wait for a job posting that seems close to your interest to pop up on your monitor. This method doesn't only place you amid massive competition, it might even lead into taking and accepting any job regardless of how far it meets your preferences and career ambition.

Networking gives you more power to choose your job — even in this economy. It is not merely about introducing yourself and expanding your contact base, as many assume it to be. Whether you decide to manage an online connection with industry contacts, more conventional face-to-face relationships or a combination of both, when you take a proactive role in presenting your abilities and knowledge in industry venues, you position yourself to build a reputation and a brand among decision-makers. This puts you right on the path of headhunters.

Unfortunately, this status cannot be achieved overnight and it might take months until you land a job this way — unless you are exceptionally lucky. However, it might be good to know that you are taking steps in the right direction. Here are a few ideas to get started on networking:

Know your style

Everyone is on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Is it important to use social media? Yes. But if you've tried to build your online presence and have never got the hang of it, don't waste your time. Go conventional! Research your industry's associations, events, forums and so on, and select the ones that you can attend and introduce yourself to others without looking out of place. If you even want to take a step further, you might try to find a part-time or a volunteer job where you can be in direct contact with most of the members of such associations.

Clean up your profiles

Online networking requires much more than an email address and parrot retweets. Building your image online means an active LinkedIn profile, regular blogging and participation on industry online forums. You can also present yourself as an expert on a certain subject matter in your industry by providing distant training and taking part in webinars, which are a great way to get publicity and an additional credential on your resume. Finally, if you're working out your image and brand online, make sure you clean up your personal profiles. The more traffic you get on your professional pages, the higher are the odds that people can stumble over your personal postings.

Don't be pushy

While the ultimate goal of these networking activities might be to find a job, you must pace yourself so that you don't look desperate. It takes effort and trust-building to get ahead of the pack and learn about job opportunities before they are even posted. If you come along as pushy to be hired, you might be ruining your own opportunities, and find your efforts going in vain.

Join the winning team

Surround yourself with positive enablers and a proactive environment. Immerse yourself in a group of active job-seekers and successful workers who can inspire you and help with constructive feedback and counselling when you need it. If you feel you are on the wrong track, pause to make sure that your group isn't slowing you down. What you need to look for in your peers or the people you're networking with is mature knowledge of the industry, great contacts and proactive exchange of experiences and advice.

Update your resume

Building your network of contacts and positioning yourself for headhunters are not a replacement for keeping an eye on available job openings. So carry on with standard job search methods like monitoring job boards, websites and advertisements. Remember, all your industry-related activities add to your credentials and your current experience — even if you have been unemployed. So update your resume often with activities that might bolster your portfolio, and bring them up in cover letters and personal interviews. This might set you apart, in an employer's eyes, from a candidate who just surrendered to unemployment and became totally inactive.

Rania Oteify, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is currently a journalist based in Seattle.