We are a social people and the continual and complex exchange of managers dipping into the talent pool to pluck candidates and candidates offering up their talent and services is, at its heart, a social transaction. It makes sense, therefore, that the hiring manager will act socially and be more likely to choose someone he or she knows, or even someone he or she has briefly met, over some name on a sheet of paper. Similarly, it makes sense that a job-seeker should act socially and focus his or her efforts on the social side of his or her job search.



But, what does that exactly mean? And what does successful networking entail for the job-seeker?



Well, what a successful job search entails is getting out there and communicating your job search to as many people as you can.



Now that does not mean walking down the street and stopping everyone you pass and telling them about your need for a job (although there are situations where someone has struck up a conversation with a stranger, say at a coffee shop, and have ended up with a new job in hand).



But, more realistically, successful networking entails being focused, deliberate and, above all, expansive. We already discussed the idea of contacting companies of interest directly. That’s one prong of action. Now we must expand upon this by finding other means of contacting additional industry professionals. By doing this, we expand our own network of industry contacts, thereby extending our reach into the hidden job market, thus giving us a greater chance to bump into one of those precious hidden jobs.



But, what are the ways that we can expand our own network of industry contacts? Well, if you think about it and if you are creative enough, the number of ways are numerous.



Let’s review some of the big ones now.



Job Fairs



Job fairs exist for the purpose of networking, and there’s a reason why they are still around – because they work. Fairs that cater to specific industries are particularly effective and should be sought out. After all, it’s here that you’ll meet many managers who are doing the hiring – all in one location, all at one time. In the world of networking, there’s nothing that beats job fairs as far as its combination of networking convenience and effectiveness.



Alma Maters



A degree from a good university provides more than just a strong education – it provides an excellent resource for expanding your network of industry contacts. Have a degree from a university? Excellent. Then take advantage of its network of alumni, a number of whom probably not only work in your industry, but may in fact be the hiring managers you’re looking to meet. So go to your university’s website and check out their alumni page. See if there’s an alumni network that you can join. Review that network for alumni who are in your location and in your industry and work to make contact with those individuals.



LinkedIn



LinkedIn is included here because it’s a particularly powerful online resource for expanding your industry network and, also, it’s one that many job-seekers do not use to its full potential. Yes, LinkedIn connects you online with industry contacts; but, there’s other LinkedIn features that can help expand your online network to an even greater degree. One particularly powerful feature is the LinkedIn Groups feature. In LinkedIn’s Interests menu, select Groups, then see if LinkedIn has a group, or several groups, that pertain to your industry. Members of these groups are not only your fellow colleagues, but are more likely than not, hiring managers as well. Try to join these groups and then make it a point to contribute regularly to their online discussions. Offer advice, ask questions, and engage specific group members – do all this so that your profile can get as much exposure as possible. After all, if you happen to make a particularly insightful comment in a discussion that a hiring manager is following, he or she may just out check out your profile and then seek you out. Either way, joining these groups and taking part in their online conversations is an excellent way to expand your online network.



Your Friends and Social Network



Hopefully, by now you see a common purpose developing in all these varying avenues for expanding your network – that common purpose being the goal to communicate your job search to as many people as possible. And your social network should not be excluded from this effort. Just because you know a friend socially does not mean that he or she cannot assist in your job search efforts. So, don’t be afraid to tell your friends or friends of friends that you’re searching for a new position. They may know someone who is hiring, or they may know of one of those hidden jobs, and may be able to arrange an interview for you.



Just remember – the worst thing you can do, the one specific thing that can truly damage the success of your job search, is to remain quiet about it.



Now it must be repeated that the above-mentioned methods aren’t the only ways to expand your network of industry contacts. There are other methods for sure, many other methods, and one part of being a successful job-seeker is to take the time to come up with other creative ways to expand your network.



Here’s one more tip – sit down at some point and brainstorm other ways that you can meet people who can help you find a new position. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you come up with.