Most job seekers are using traditional means to find reemployment, so educated networking that leads to informational meetings is clearly essential to every successful job search.
Recent surveys show that 12.1% of full-time employed U.S. workers are currently exploring or actively seeking new employment opportunities. With that number of people looking for positions in the marketplace, your search efforts must be consistent and persistent.

Networking is the way for you to connect with recent co-workers, customers, bosses, those you’ve met at conferences or events and colleagues and friends who you may not have been in contact with since you left your last position, or even before you separated.

FACT: Decision makers are more likely to talk to people who have been recommended by someone they know and trust. The more you concentrate on building and using your network, the more opportunities you will be aware of and the more you can expand your network.

Networking should not be a one-way street. Keep these networking basics in mind:
1. You must have a good reason for talking to a person
2. Offer to assist others and return the favor whenever possible
3. Ask for advice but not for a job
4. Don’t pressure others to get involved in your job search by sending your resume around

It is a good idea to have a presence on LinkedIn or other appropriate professional online forums. Create a profile and make sure it includes your most recent measurable accomplishments that you worked on with your CMI counselor. Industry and alumni groups are good places to make connections and uncover leads and jobs. Responding to a position posted by a group is often more effective than applying for the same position on a job board.

NOTE TO CMI CLIENTS: If you are networking and have had 15 networking meetings without getting a referral, be sure that you and your CMI counselor are analyzing your meetings to determine how to improve your results. We are here for you. Your success is our success!