Networking is a powerful job-search tool.
For all its power, networking really is fairly simple. It is an exchange of information that can take place anywhere, from a formal information-gathering meeting to a casual conversation in line at the grocery store.
For example, Facebook gives us vast networking potential — the average Facebook user has approximately 130 friends — but if you don’t network properly, you won’t get job leads.
Since networking is about information gathering, how you ask questions is very important. Here are some quick tips to make networking questions more effective:
Use open-ended questions (those that can’t be answered with a yes or no). Here’s an example: What advice would you give someone starting out in this industry?
Have a clear idea of what you need.
Build rapport by looking for ways to help those you want to help you. Asking too many questions can make a contact feel uncomfortable.
When you ask for additional networking contacts, start your question with “Who do you know …” rather than “do you know anyone who … .”
A few changes in the way you ask questions can lead to a job opportunity. The right questions will lead to the right answers.
