Blog Post: Utilize Your Network's Network

We keep hearing that networking is a key component to your job search. In order to maximize your networks, here are a few tips that have been given many times:

• make sure that you have reached out to your current network to inform them you are on the job hunt (and filled them in on the type of work you are looking for)
• seek out non-profits, educational, and professional associations to expand your network of industry specific professionals
• keep up with the changing times by staying current on social media trends
• if you have built a strong social media network make yourself even more visible to today's professional audience.

This is all great advice! But, have you overlooked the help your immediate network can give you?
 
Try this exercise: reach out to your network and ask them who they already know in the field that you are interested in. Sometimes people don't connect the resources they have. If you simply tell someone that you are looking for a position in IT, they may say, "great I'll keep an eye out". Taking a more proactive approach can yield better results. So, something like, "Who do you know who works in IT or for an IT company? I'd love to set up an informational interview to learn more". This will let your contact focus on specific people rather than an overall industry.
 
Remember, an informational interview is asking for the information as opposed to the job. Sometimes the information is more important than anything else.