Never ask for a job

Well, perhaps not ‘never’, but certainly not for a little while.

A much more successful approach is to see each new contact as a source of information and advice and as a way to make more contacts.

You won’t be kidding anybody – they know how the industry works and they were once in your shoes. They know you’re ultimately looking for a job, so you won’t be missing out on any opportunities, but this approach, although not as direct, will help you become better informed and better connected within the field, and more likely to be hired.

Be patient - Networking your way to a job is not likely to get you an immediate result.


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Don’t expect instant or even quick results: getting a job is a job in itself

It may feel frustrating and be time consuming, and even costly, what with the phone calls, travel, and buying people cups of coffee, but you do need to prepare yourself for a long haul. The chances of the first person you contact having a suitable job for you within a week of your meeting are pretty slim. So be realistic with your expectations, and plan for some weeks or months working on it. This will allow you to make practical contingency plans (such as a job in a bar to pay your rent), and will help you to keep your motivation up as you’re not setting yourself up for disappointment.


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Nurture your Network

Mindful that you are trying to build up a network to help you now and in the future, and you are not just wanting to meet people for a one-off chat, it’s a good idea to think about how you might maintain or develop the relationship once your initial meeting is over.

There are lots of ways to do this, so you need to work out what is going to work best for you, and for your contact. Here are a few ideas that night work:

* Send a thank you card after your first meeting
* Let them know that you’ve had a productive meeting with any contacts they’ve given you
* Let them know that you’ve taken their advice and what the outcome was
* Send them a Christmas card
* Invite them to a private view
* If you come across information or an event that you might think they might be interested in, forward it on to them


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Think of someone you know who is a good networker. What could you learn from them?

• What is it about them that makes them good at it?
• Where do they meet people?
• How do they strike up conversations?
• How do they turn a casual chat into something more productive?
• How do they feel about networking?

So you’ve got realistic expectations - you know you’re going to start off asking for advice and

Making Contact – Who are you going to speak to? How are you going to approach them? If you’re not entirely sure then click here for some hints...
Making Conversation – Once you’ve made that initial contact, are you worried that you might not know what to say or how to get the conversation going? These suggestions might help...


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