KEY POINTS:
One of the best career development strategies you can adopt is the art of networking. And while it may lead to a better job, one career coach says job hunters need to play it cool.
Kaye Avery, owner of career-coach.co.nz, says most successful people in business use networking to get ahead and understand what everyone in their network can offer them. And it's no different for people looking for a new job.
"Why are the cafes doing such good business? It's because people are finding out what is going on in their industry."
Avery says networking must be an intentional activity and people must attend meetings with a clear idea of what they hope to get out of it. That could be information about a company, other people or the industry.
"People need to know what they want and what they have to offer when they go to a networking meeting - because you can do an awful lot of damage if you are not clear," she says.
And that "damage" could ruin a job-hunter's chances of a better job.
"Meetings can go very wrong, very quickly, if you come across as desperate ... " she says.
"If you think you can network with your CV in your hand saying 'I'm looking for a job, where are they?' then people will be less willing to help you.
"But if you approach people with the attitude that you are really wanting to find out what's going on in the market then people will respect your approach and are more likely to help. And one reason for this is that you are validating their knowledge.
"And it is also a reciprocal thing. If you go in with the attitude that 'I want, I want and where can you help me?' then it is all take - and that can put the burden on the other person."
Instead, Avery says people should attend networking meetings looking to see what they can do for the other person, but at the same time being clear on what they are looking for.
"If you are intent on making a career move you really need to target your contacts so you meet people who know what's going on and then find out what's going on in their business," says Avery. "And if you do that in an intentional way, you can gather information about where you really want to be. Then you can make an informed choice about which company to work for and whether the role you are targeting is realistic in this market and so on."
Avery says networking is an ongoing strategy that should continue after you have landed your plum job.
"For career sustainability you need to have your finger on the pulse in terms of what is happening within your field," she says. "Because often, redundancy happens to people that haven't kept up. And when you don't keep up you can end up having an unrealistic view of your career potential."
And while talking over a cup of hot froth is a great way to network, plenty of others are using social networking sites to find out who knows whom. Sometimes, says Avery, people will invite someone along for a chat so they can get introduced to someone else.
"Sites like Facebook and Linkedin have revolutionised networking," she says. "But you have to be careful not to abuse it. These sites offer a good way of gathering information, provide an opportunity to present yourself and draw people into your skill set, interests and what you are looking for.
"But the whole point of networking is to find out information. To become an informed candidate. Can you do that via a social networking site? I don't think so. If you are in an intensive job-search mode, then you need to be out there meeting people."
Garth Castle, owner of self-development firm Down-to-Basics training, says the whole idea of networking is to plant a seed.
"You don't ever meet a person and assume they can help you - they may not have what you are looking for," he says. "You have to remember that we are all six degrees away from each other - people know people.
"Networking is a long-term ongoing thing. You let people know what you are about without being in their face. It is all about relationship-building and putting out the signals."
Avery agrees saying you need to respect what information is shared and - very importantly - you need to get back to your contacts afterwards.
"You need to keep them informed about what is going on for you," says Avery. "And a follow-up meeting, email or call is really important. And the way to do that is to say at the meeting 'I'd like to keep in touch' and see what the answer is. You need to be respectful, you need a lot of integrity and the attitude of reciprocity."
