Networking, or Informational Interviewing is one of the most valuable strategies for gathering information and establishing contacts. It can enable you to: Gain a firsthand impression of a particular employer or industry; get practical ideas and insider advice about how to enter that field; get contacts with other people in your area of interest; develop and maintain friendly relationships with your contacts; enlarge the list of people who can alert you to job opportunities.

"Networking" entered everyday business language in the mid 1990's, and acquired a degree of mystique that it didn't deserve. It is widely recognised now as an essential in business life and in progressing a career. To see how people understand the importance of networking, notice how many dedicated groups and networking clubs that have sprung up.

In this article we take away that mystique and explain why you should network as a key part of any career search. And how you should do it. Let's get to the "Why" first. Think about hiring from the employer's point of view for a moment. It is quite costly in time and in money, and it is risky and uncertain. The costs will come through in fees to professional recruiters or headhunters if the organisation choses to outsource the work. If they do it in-house, the cost come in the time of the people who have to write and place ads, deal with responses, arrange interviews, write to candidates, and so on.

So what would employers prefer in an ideal world? Just what you and I would prefer. Someone we know, or who is recommended to us by someone we trust. That way they come with a sponsor who knows how they work and what they can do. And that counts for a lot. That's why a lot of companies pay bounties to staff who introduce new staff members (provided they join and prove capable.) There's no real mystique to networking. Nor is there any special difficulty. Let's take a look at: what it is, what it isn't, and how to do it.

What is Networking? First off, it is not pushing yourself onto people who don't want to talk to you. It is not like 'cold call' selling or telemarketing. Networking in the job search context, is simply talking to people you know, and to people they know, to get useful information and advice. Hopefully (as is the case so often) it will in time, uncover an opportunity that the rest of Joe Public does not yet know about.

It's a process through which you build up your contacts. And it is reciprocal, not a one-way street. You have to give to receive. But the great part about it is that other people are pleased to enlarge their network too and by speaking with them, you have joined it. At some point in the future, assuming you stay in touch, you may well be in a position to help them with some information.

Here's a real example of how networking works. Naturally, we have changed the names of those involved. Susan wanted to improve the amount of time she spends with her kids by leaving her hectic finance job and getting into school teaching. Through asking around the people she knows, she found a piano teacher who takes individual pupils and teaches at her home. They chat and it turns out the piano teacher has a friend whose daughter teaches school. Susan and the daughter get together on the phone a few times. (in person would be better, but they live too far apart).

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