Over the course of the coming weeks, the REACH Newsletter will present tools to assist you with the job development and acquisition processes. In this edition, you will be introduced to the value of networking. 80% of jobs are obtained through networking1. As students with disabilities who are preparing for employment upon graduation, this is an important tool.
Following are a few facts for consideration2:
- People naturally do business with those they know and like.
- Depending on the nature of your disability and the accommodations needed, employers who already know you well are far more likely to readily accommodate you than employers who have never met you.
- While job listings draw many applicants, networking makes you a recommended member of a much smaller pool.
- Networking leads to information and job leads before a formal job is announced.
Hopefully the above points help to convince you that networking is important. Now, several key steps will be presented on how to network, taken from a book entitled The 20-Minute Networking Meeting3:
- Step 1: Make a great first impression
- Express thanks to the person with whom you are networking
- Highlight common connections and set the agenda for the meeting
- Step 2: Give an overview of your background
- Provide a brief overview of your work and experience
- Step 3: Have a brief great discussion by asking five questions:
- Questions 1-3: These questions should be about the interviewee and how he or she can best help you meet your networking goals. One way to generate these questions is to review the interviewee’s LinkedIn profile. You can form these questions by stating an observation about the interviewee and asking a related question.
- Question 4: This question should focus on expanding your network. Ask them for contacts of people in their network that could be potentially valuable in your job search.
- Question 5: Ask how you can help the interviewee. Don’t be afraid to ask this question because everyone knows people who can benefit each other in some way or another.
- Step 4: Close the discussion by thanking the interviewee.
- Step 5: Follow-up
- Send an email thanking your primary interviewee
- Make contact with the referrals that you were given in your meeting
As you build your network, remember that LinkedIn is a great way to find connections. If you need more individualized help with networking, you are welcome to schedule an appointment with the REACH Manager, Tyler Briggs, by calling (801) 422-3000.
1 Job search and networking: Networking basics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gcflearnfree.org/jobsearchandnetworkimg/networking-basics/1/
2 Kobara, J. E., & Smith, M. (2018). Job networking tips. Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships communication/job-networking-tips.htm
3. Perez, N. A. and Ballinger, M. (2015). The 20-Minute Networking Meeting. San Bernardino, CA: Career Innovations Press.