Ready for a career change, and have a contact on the inside? Here's how to make the mot of it and make that great relationship work for you.

1. HowYourRelationships
CanHelpYouNetwork
Created By Terry Newmyer

2. First,youneedtoidentifywhatyouwanttoachievefromnetworking.
Areyouexploringanewfieldorjustwanttolearnaboutit?

3. Get Ready.
Dosomehomeworkfirst– researchwithinyourfield,readuponorganizationwebsites,
andjoinaprofessionalassociationsoyoucanbeconversantandprofessionalwithyour
contacts.Don’twastepeople’svaluabletimewithbasicquestionsthatyoucouldanswer
withafewminutesofresearch!

4. Get Organized.
Youwillbedoingalotofoutreach,visits,emailingandfollowing
upwithpeople.Getasysteminplacetotrackthedetails,usinga
spreadsheetsuchasExcel,orwhateverelseworksforyou.

5. Categorize Your Contacts.
Forexample,categorizebyrelevancetoyourjobsearch.Mostrelevantwouldbe
peoplecurrentlyinyourdesiredindustry,toleastrelevant,likeabestfriendinan
unrelatedindustry,whostillmayknowsomeonewhoknowssomeone….
FRIENDS AND FAM
COWORKERS FRIENDS OF FRIENDS
CONTACTS
Bylevelsofconnectionwithyou.

6. Ask Your Contacts.
Askthemtokeepaneyeoutforrelevantjobsforyou,andtoforwardthemalong.Ask
themtointroduceyoutopeopleinyourareaofinterest.Askfortipsonthehiring
processintheircompany.AskthemtorecommendyouonLinkedin.
Youhavenothingtolose!

7. Identify Your Inner Circle.
Innercirclecontactsarepeoplewhoknowyou
personallyandmightbeabletorecommendyou.

8. Leverage Your Existing Inner Circle Contacts.
ContactthemviaLinkedin,othersocialmedia,emailorphone,witha
messagereachingouttore-establishtherelationship.Askhowtheyhave
beenandmentionthatyouaresoonlaunchingajobsearch!

9. Maintain Your Relationships.
Maintaintherelationshipthatyouhaveestablishedwithyournewandexisting
contactsonanongoingbasis,notjustwhenyouarejob-seeking.
Dothisby,forexample,sendingahandwrittencardaftereveryinterview.
Ifyoudon’thavetheiraddressforahandwrittencard,youcanalwayswritethema
Linkedinrecommendation!

10. GOOD LUCK &
HAPPY NETWORKING!