Broadening your network and making new contacts can lead to becoming aware of new opportunities and possibly getting referred for a job.

You may not be able to forestall a layoff. What you can do is plan ahead and be prepared as best you can

With a well-developed elevator pitch, you can quickly let the interviewer learn information about you that will be 1) important to developing a positive first impression, 2) that will intrigue the person to want to learn more, and 3) help the person understand the value that you can provide. At a networking event or any get-together where you will meet new people, you can quickly convey what makes you unique and how you provide value. 

Networking may seem hard on LinkedIn, but it really isn’t. LinkedIn is set up to facilitate networking among business professionals. Networking is one of the strategies I encourage all job seekers to use to find opportunities. As you increase your exposure on the platform and develop relationships, it is easier to be noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.

Networking and becoming a referral can be a powerful tool in your job search, but job seekers are often stymied on how to find people to network with. You are told to find people using the internet. But how? Follow what recruiters do. Sourcing is a significant part of the job for most recruiters.

If you are not using LinkedIn effectively, you are potentially missing out on a great networking tool that could make your job search more targeted and shorter.

You may have have heard that networking is one of the keys to job search success. Yet some people are hesitant to use their network of contacts for fear, among other reasons, that the connection will be bothered by any request for help. This is where having a strategy that makes it easier for your connections to introduce you to others can bring more success.

If you are introverted, the thought of going to a networking event may fill you full of dread. As an introvert myself, I can tell you that it can get easier.  As I was helping my introvert child prepare for a networking event, we talked about some strategies to make the evening go better. After coming back from the event, he said that it went much better than he would have thought. He talked to a few people and seemed to enjoy himself. Success! 

Here are some suggestions I have to make a networking event productive and less intimidating:

Many people feel that the way to success in a job search is playing a game of numbers. Submit as many applications as possible to companies and hope that one will do the trick. For some this may work. But for the vast majority of people, solely relying on this method will lead to a very long job search.