Networking can lead to interviews.  Getting comfortable with networking can generate the kind of meetings and conversations in which you uncover leads to your next position or to enhance the one you already have!

Why networking?  Through networking, you can often identify needs before they turn into openings, and openings before they are announced on the Open Market. With networking, you can get a jump on the competition!

In fact, networking meetings are actually "interviews" of a sort.  They are informal conversations / discussions that could lead you to your next job as you discuss your capabilities and demonstrate how you could benefit a potential employer.  Isn't that all an interview is anyway? 

So, set a goal to schedule networking meetings.  This does not mean sending an impersonal, cursory e-mail, or leaving a voice mail message with only your name and phone number.   It means setting up meaningful meetings, phone calls, or e-mails that offer information about your capabilities as well as needs you can fulfill for a prospective employer and the benefits you can provide. 

Set a goal:  So, schedule networking meetings.  Set a goal of at least one networking meeting a day.   You’ll be surprised by the number of new people you meet, business connections you make, and needs and potential jobs you discover.
For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.
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