Leadership

More Tips for Networking Your Way to a Job You Love

By Stacy Blackman

Updated on: June 9, 2009 / 11:46 AM EDT / MoneyWatch

Last week, I shared a few tips from Columbia School of Business MBA Sara Gaviser Leslie on how to use your networking skills to land a job. Here are a few more of her suggestions.

1. Send your resume: Even if you are approaching someone in hopes of conducting a simple informational interview, send your resume along with your request. When Gaviser Leslie receives requests from job hunters, she's surprised by how many people fail to do this. "I shouldn't have to do any work to figure out who you are and what you want to do," she says. "[Sending a resume] should be common practice."
2. Email a thank-you note: While a hand-written thank-you note on fancy stationary might make a good initial impression, it can be easily set aside and never seen again. "When you send an email, they can get back to you and have your information handy," says Gaviser Leslie.
3. Look to help others: Don't think of networking as a one-way street. Assisting others in their goals will not only help them, but benefit you in the long run. "If someone mentions something you could help with, step in. They'll be one more person who will be willing to help you in the future," Gaviser Leslie says.
4. Attend industry events and conferences: Once you've landed your first job, don't neglect new networking opportunities, Gaviser Leslie advises MBA grads. This is especially important if your company doesn't have much room for growth or if you took a job that doesn't feel like a good fit. "It's a lot easier to find a job after you have a job, especially in same industry," says Gaviser Leslie.

Finally, don't be afraid to put yourself out there. "Just because someone is working at a great company and has a great job, don't assume a million people are contacting them. Cast your net wide and then you can compare your options," says Gaviser Leslie.

When we ran the first installment of this interview last week, one reader requested tips focused on online networking for job hunters. For those of you interested in this subject, I suggest checking out two recent posts from The Wall Street Journal's Laid Off and Looking blog, "Creating a Stellar Web Profile" and "Using Twitter for the Job Search."

I'm wondering if networking ever landed any readers the job of their dreams. Leave a comment and tell us how you did it.

Network image courtesy of Flickr user Luc Legay, CC 2.0