Why Network?

The reality is that most job seekers find their next job through networking. In fact, according to surveys by such groups as the Association of Outplacement Consulting Firms and the American Management Association, up to 60 percent of all jobs are filled as a result of an informal, interpersonal contact.

"When carried out in a structured, systematic way, networking is a supereffective method of getting job market exposure and gathering useful information," writes Douglas B. Richardson in his book, "National Business Employment Weekly: Networking."

The U.S. Department of Labor agrees, reporting that about two-thirds of all "conventional" jobs are filled through informal methods -- through gossip, word-of-mouth, relatives, friends, and acquaintances. But to be truly effective, there must be a "method" to the "madness" of networking -- you can't just call all of your friends once and expect your next job to magically appear. The key element of Richardson's definition is a "structured and systematic" approach to building and leveraging your network.

There are four categories of networking:
1. Personal relationships (your family, relatives, friends, neighbors, service providers, social club members, etc.)
2. Professional relationships (current and former co-workers, vendors, contractors, competitors)
3. Organizational and community affiliations (members of community groups or professional organizations you below to, chambers of commerce, licensing bodies)
4. "Opportunistic" contacts -- the person you happen to meet while standing in line at the grocery store, the guy who runs your favorite hot dog stand.

Your network is "any group of people you know or can get to know for the purposes of sharing information."