Are You Networked? 5 Types of Network Contacts Every Job Seeker Has

Have you been networking? You should be. In today’s job market, over 75 percent of new hires come from networking contacts. That, my friends, is a huge slice of pie that you could be missing out on.

As we create our own networks (or just be part of those created around us), it’s important to seek the most well-rounded network. You know, one that has a little bit of everything in order to get the most bang for your networking buck.

Check out these five networking contacts every job seeker has:

The Mentor

This person is probably one of the most important network contacts you have. You can usually find a mentor in a former supervisor or professor, or maybe a friend of the family, but don’t let that limit your options. A mentor is the person you can turn to when you need your resume revised or a sympathetic ear when you run into a professional pickle. This person probably won’t be hiring you for themselves, but they will be able to connect you with others from their network…

The Employer

Connecting with employers is pretty much the end-game for a lot of job seekers, and for good reason. Employers are valuable networking contacts when they’re in your region, managing people in your area of expertise, and actively networking. They might not always be hiring, but it’s always good to keep in touch and get a conversation going because they will turn to you when the time comes to hire. Employers are also valuable because they’re usually connected with…

The Competitor

Whether they were in your graduating class or from places unknown, they’re interested in the same jobs as you. The competitor will troll your connections and jump in on conversations to open doors for themselves. Certainly, you have heard the saying, “Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.” This quote is attributed to Sun Tzu – possibly the greatest military strategists who ever lived. Not everyone who is in the same pool as you is a competitor, but if they are, stay connected to monitor their moves. If they are not competing with you for the same job, then you can tap them for industry and professional contacts to land the job that interests you.

Sometimes, you’ll find in your network…

The Super-Achiever

This person might be at the same level as you or a few steps ahead. Whatever it is, they are going at 120 miles an hour and show no signs of stopping. In college, they were the kid in twelve clubs while taking 25 credits per semester. They don’t poach your leads as much as they simply take on everything. Not everything is going to work out for them, so pay attention to what makes them successful and follow suit. On the flipside, your network will also have a few of…

The Slacker

A good number of your networking contacts are in this group. The slackers are the people you knew in school, friends, and co-workers that just don’t network regularly (or at all). Sometimes the slacker uses their existing connections to build a network and walks away. Use this to your advantage and check out who you might be able to connect with through them.

What do you think? Do you agree with this list? What other networking contacts does the average job seeker have? What other types of contacts should they have?


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *