After you have compiled your list of names, your next step is to contact them, either by phone, e-mail or letter. It might be a good idea to send your resume to them so they can send it to someone else. But remember, in networking, one asks contacts for information, referrals, and advice, not necessarily for a job.
The point of this process is that someone will know someone who knows someone who has a job vacancy. As a networker, you are seeking to get to that person.
Contacting Those You Don't Know
What sorts of questions should you ask these people? Examples:
"Do you know anyone who hires people with skills like mine?"
"How does one begin a career in . . .?"
"What do you think a person with my skills and background should do to begin a job search?"
"How can I best present my skills and abilities to potential employers?"
"Can you recommend other people for me to talk to? May I tell those people that you suggested that I contact them?"
The first step here is finding out who you want to contact. These should be employers for whom you would like to work and people you think can help you uncover job leads or give you solid advice. You can find companies for whom you would like to work by researching various websites to find the names of companies in your area or in a specific industry for whom you would like to work. Or, you can just use the Yellow Pages to locate companies in your area.
After you have a list of names, write a letter and ask for their advice or an interview to learn more about the company or industry in which they work. Remember that your goal in this activity isn't necessarily to get a job offer, or to blatantly ask for a job, but to get job leads and make connections. If they ask for your resume, then have one ready to hand them.
Always try to drop a name when you phone or write these companies. Why? Because 500 other people are also contacting them and sending in their resumes. Most of these resumes are filed away unread or trashed, but if you drop a name in your cover letter, your odds of getting an interview go up significantly. For example, you could begin your cover letter with: "I was talking to John Doe, your Director of Finance, the other day and he suggested that I forward my resume to you . . ." or "Your golfing partner, John Doe, suggested that I contact you for advice on entering the sales field . . . " or "Jane Smith thinks I would make an excellent sales person and advised me to forward a copy of my resume to you . . . ".
Hopefully, your networking activities will uncover a hidden job lead or you might be able to convince an employer to create a job just for you.
