How to Effectively Network To the Job of Your Dreams

Effective Networking

If you are like most job seekers these days, you have likely spent hours and hours searching the internet for organizations with job openings that match your skills and experience. If you’re lucky, those searches eventually uncover a job posting perfect for you. You then spend even more time assembling an application and sending it in. You  sit back and wait, and wait and wait for a response. The fact is that if you found and applied for this job, there are probably hundreds of other candidates who did the same. You need to find any edge possible on the competition.

While there are several things you can do to rise above the other candidates via your actual application, there is one thing you can do before you apply to help make sure your resume is the one that gets the most attention: network with people in the industry. Making connections with as many people as possible during your job search can: 1) help you identify the organizations that operate in a way that can best utilize your skills, 2) introduce you to brand new segments of the development world that you were previously unaware of (there are, after all, thousands of development organizations), and 3) help you make connections with staffers at the organizations that you are most passionate about. For now, we’ll focus on this last point and what to do and not do when you have made such a connection.

Where and how to start?

Most people are not natural networkers. It takes a lot of effort and some courage to start this long and oftentimes uncomfortable process. The good news is that once you get a couple good leads, they tend to multiply quickly. An added benefit in the world of international development is that you will be eventually be asking people who are prone to being generous with their time and skill to help you out.

Moreover, unlike even five years ago, it is incredibly easy these days to network. Everyone knows the relevant sites, but not everyone realizes the best way to use them.

First, you need to build a network. After you create an account on a site like LinkedIn, get to work building your own network. This does not mean scouring organizations you like and asking staffers who you do not know to accept your invitation to connect. Most people you do not know will not want to open up their “address book” to you. You can, however, easily build a network by connecting with friends, current and former classmates, family friends, current and past colleagues, and teachers and professors first and then seeing where those primary contacts take you. Start with the people who know and like you and move to their networks via a personal connection.

Second, join relevant industry and topical groups on these sites. Many of these boards feature job opportunities that do not make it to the big public job boards or to an organization’s website (or at least not until later). These are often the jobs that most urgently need to be filled as well.

Third, actively use the two methods above. Having 500 contacts is useless unless you actually try to reach out to people to set up informational calls or meetings. Start with the people who know you best and who would be glad to do some legwork for you.

You made a connection, now what do you do?

You created a network of hundreds of contacts, you scoured the job conversations, asked your friends to connect you and now have an introduction to a person at your #1 target organization. How you approach this potential connection could have a meaningful impact on whether you get a job at that company. If you are tempted to just shoot off a casual text to ask when they can talk to you, be sure you understand who the audience is. This contact very well may be asked to provide a summary of their interactions with you and a recommendation on whether you should be offered an interview or possibly even a job, so make sure you start thinking in interview mode.

What do I mean by “interview mode”? That means you should treat this opportunity as if you are starting the interview process. That means several things.

1. Make sure your communications are professional and courteous. Assume the person you are trying to speak with is very busy. To entice them to talk with you, try to offer times to meet, have a call, email or whatever on a schedule that works for them (even if inconvenient for you). Follow their lead on communication style as well. If they write professional emails, don’t shoot back a text-like email with spelling errors and no punctuation (this happens all the time believe it or not).
2. Be prepared for the call or meeting.  You don’t have to overdo it if the contact has dictated a more casual setting (i.e., coffee, a drink, etc.), but assume they are going to evaluate you like it was an interview. That means be on time, be respectful of any time limitations they have indicated, and come prepared. Being prepared means you understand the organization, its mission and major facts or figures. The last thing you want to do at this meeting is say anything that resembles the question “so, what do you guys do at company X”?
3. Don’t hide your interest.  The person you are meeting with realizes you are looking for a job and that you would love some help getting one. Most people have been on the other side of the table at some point, so be sure to show your interest and enthusiasm for the organization and ask about openings if appropriate.
4. Seek more connections.  Don’t be afraid to ask them if there is anyone else in their network who they could consider putting you in touch with. This is the best way to build a huge network of contacts.
5. Consider an appropriate follow-up.  This could include something as simple as a short thank you email. You should also consider telling this contact that you are going to go ahead and send in an application. If they can/want to put in a good word for you they will.
6. Think before you over-network.  If you spam lots of people at the same organization and set up lots of calls and meetings, word may get around that you are taking up lots of time. There are only so many informational interviews you can have before running out of things to ask, so be mindful of the time you are asking staffers at the same organization to put in.

Whatever strategy you employ here, rest assured that it will likely be some of the most valuable and impactful time you can spend on the job hunt front. Good luck!