We have covered Steps 1 and 2, of the 20-20-60, 3 Step Job Seeking Plan and now comes the final and most important Step. The Step which can make or break the previous 2… networking.

20-20-60, 3 Step Job Seeking Plan

Step 3

3. The largest chunk of your efforts (60%) should be dedicated to networking. Networking is all about the value of your connections, not the amount.

The Wrong Way to Network

Letting every professional you’ve ever crossed paths with know you are looking for a job in the hope of the right recruiter cottoning-on to your job search plight is not the way to go about networking.

The Right Way to Network

Networking is an ongoing process you must engage in at all stages of your career on a day-to-day basis. It is all about finesse and preparation.

Throughout your career you need to keep an eye out for those valuable individuals you cross paths with who are definite candidates for helping your career reach its apex further down the track. Even those professionals who show future potential, but who are not yet ripe for aiding in your career climb yet, may one day prove a boon to your professional prosperity.

Who should you Network with?  

It is often tricky to pin-point who could be invaluable to your future job hunting efforts and who is just a passer-by in your chosen field. Clarity comes with time, so you need to spend your energy sowing the seeds of trust and professionalism with those important individuals you have identified as worthwhile networking with.

These valuable individuals are in a position to vouch for your aptitude and attitude. Putting a good word in for your performance will go a long way in cementing your competency with recruiters and employers when you are looking to start a new job.

Networking Success

By building a small, networked group of select professionals with a bit of pull will do wonders for your long-term career prospects. These people have confidence in your skills and will refer you to others when a job comes up that they think you’d be well-suited for. This is how you enter the inner-circle of acquaintances and leave the ‘stranger’ tag behind, by these individuals referring you to others.