Networking

Networking is the process of contacting people who can either give you information about potential job openings or connect you to others who have this information. The ultimate goal of networking is to be introduced to the person who has the authority to hire you for the job you are seeking.

Most jobs are never advertised or listed with employment agencies. One of the most effective ways of finding out about jobs is by getting leads from people you know.

Attending the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California, June 21-26, 2012 is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of natural networking situations.

• Visit The Conference web site for details.
  
  
• Discover the benefits of attending ALA and other professional conferences.
  
  
• Take a look at the top 10 reasons to attend the ALA Conference.

• Tips on How to Build Your Network
  
  
• What About Social Media and Web 2.0?
  
  
  • What's ALA Connect
    
    
  • What's Facebook?
    
    
  • What's LinkedIn
    
    
  • What's Meetup
    
    
  • What's Tweeter
  
  
  
• Learning the Art of Small Talk
  Networking with people you do not know or are casually acquainted can sometimes present a challenge. The author suggests the key to succeeding with small talk is preparation.
  
  
• How To Network
  Author discusses quick ways to start developing your network while you are working or in school.
  
  
• The ALA JobLIST Placement Center held a webinar on January 11, 2011. A list of resources was developed as a result of questions asked during the session which might help in job seekers' networking activities.
  
  
• Where to Network
  Tips on where to start
  
  
• Whom to Network With
  Tips on who to start with
  
  
• Networking Led to a Job
  How networking really can lead to a job
  
  
• Desperately Seeking a Job: My Experiences at the Job Placement Center
  An ALA Conference attendee gives helpful tips she gleaned from her time at the Job Placement Center.
  
  
• Job-Search Strategies (brief video)
  Caitlin Williams, a career development consultant and coach in San Jose, California, talked with AL Focus at the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting about some important things to keep in mind for job-hunters in this tough economy.
  
  
• Refine Your Small-Talk Job Search Skills
  We’ve all found ourselves in a situation where someone we don’t know asked us what we do for a living. Giving a one or two word response may not be a good idea. The author explains how you can advance your career and personal job searches by sharpening your professional small talk.
  
  
• Should Over-50 Job Hunters Join Facebook?
  Author says that anyone looking for a job would be doing himself a disservice not to have a profile on a networking site in the current job market.
  
  
• Networking Online Works: Head to the Internet for the Latest Technique in Networking
  Author provides numerous ways to help you take advantage of resources on the internet.
  
  
• Work the Network
  Though people sometimes call it a “hidden network,” about 80 percent of candidates find jobs through it, so it’s not really so hidden. Author gives simple ways to help recognize people already in your network.



• Seven Networking Myths: Fact or Fiction?
  Author lists some beliefs about networking and explains why they may or may not be true.
  
  
• Networking Guide
  Many people think of networking as a negative form of schmoozing, but the reality is that networking is the best way to land a job, especially in a tight economy. Guide gives information to help make the process of networking easier and more productive.
  
  
• Guide to Networking
  It’s Not About Who You Know… It’s Who Knows About You! This is a detailed guide on how to network successfully.
  
  
• Networking Tips
  Author says networking can be a fun and easy way to enrich your life, broaden your horizons, and enhance your career. But, it can also be potentially devastating if you act rudely, insensitively, or ignore the needs and desires of others. Gives networking how-to's.
  
  
• How to Become Comfortable Networking
  Author says the rule of "who you know" has long been a key job search component. Statistics have consistently shown that over 80% of jobs never get advertised because they are filled through the vague technique of "networking". Author gives simple steps to get the networking process started.
  
  
• The Secrets of Effective Networking
  Author says "Your next job will probably come either from your friends or from their friends, so networking—building personal relationships—is vitally important." Gives steps to follow in building relationships.
  
  
• The Basics of Good Networking
  Author explains that networking isn't about the quantity of contacts you make; it's about the quality of relationships you enjoy.



• The Art of Career and Job-Search Networking
  Networking is one of the most important -- if not the most important -- activities that job-seekers need to master to be truly successful in your job-search. Find lots of resources to help you master this skill.
  
  
• Skip Haley's Networking Tips for Introverts
  Includes an interview with a successful job seeker.