One student had reached 49 鈥渃offee chats鈥 鈥 brief meetings with industry contacts 鈥 with nothing to show for it.
He was ready to give up, said Karen Jackson-Cox, executive director of the Career Advancement Centre at Queen鈥檚 University's Smith School of Business. 鈥淗e鈥檚 like, 鈥業鈥檓 done. This networking thing does not work.鈥欌
But they booked one more 鈥 his 50th meeting.
The industry contact didn鈥檛 have any job openings for him 鈥 but a colleague just down the hall needed a specific skill set. They walked over to another office and this colleague was, in fact, a hiring manager for a unique role, the kind that doesn鈥檛 show up on job sites.
鈥淎nd long story short, that became an interview and job offer,鈥 Jackson-Cox said. 鈥淩ight on the spot.鈥
It is estimated that 70 to 80 per cent of available jobs are never posted, she added 鈥 they are roles filled internally or through networking. If young job seekers are not prioritizing networking, they are missing the vast majority of opportunities.
鈥淪o you have to be prepared,鈥 Jackson-Cox said. 鈥淵ou have to be persistent. And you have to be professional.鈥
Networking is stressful for many, the introverted and inexperienced alike, but it鈥檚 a skill like any other.
A tracking document can keep the process methodical and organized with potential contacts, outreach and followups, Jackson-Cox said.
For in-person networking, her students have practice sessions circulating a room and learning to ask questions and talk about themselves.
"I think it鈥檚 important to realize that this takes time,鈥 Jackson-Cox said. 鈥淎nd you have to be intentional, because networking is about building genuine relationships that align with your goals.鈥
Lori Stephenson, founder of career coaching firm My Big Sky in Burlington, Ont., helps students from late high school through university and into the job search.
To start, job seekers should dip back into their school contacts; ideally they engaged with their instructors in class or during office hours, Stephenson said.
鈥淚 think we forget, once we鈥檝e graduated, that we鈥檙e alumni from our school,鈥 Stephenson said, 鈥渟o you can go back to those supports. There鈥檒l be job postings, there will be career resources, and ideally (students) are doing that before they leave.鈥
The next phase includes connecting with everyone you know, she said, including coaches and past employers from summer jobs, family friends and neighbours, camp counsellors and mentors.
The following step moves into the industry aligned with your education and career goals. Take a research approach, Stephenson said 鈥 ask questions and learn, don鈥檛 just say you鈥檙e looking for work.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about having a reason why you want to connect with somebody, not just to build the numbers, but to better understand the type of work they do,鈥 Stephenson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not, 鈥榃ill you hire me?鈥 鈥 it鈥檚 a different lens. When we think of networking, we might think about somebody who鈥檚 hiring, but that limits the conversation.鈥
Go to industry conferences and job fairs, join clubs and associations, go to events with a friend, make manageable goals such as 鈥淚鈥檓 going to meet three people,鈥 Stephenson said. Focus the conversation on asking questions and getting advice 鈥 people love giving advice, she added 鈥 but be ready to answer the big question: 鈥淭ell me about yourself.鈥
鈥淎nd the answer, by the way, is not just, 鈥業'm looking for a job,鈥欌 she said. 鈥淭he answer is, 鈥業鈥檇 like to connect with you because I see that you have graduated from the same program.鈥欌
Many people struggle with talking about themselves, Jackson-Cox admitted. But again 鈥 it鈥檚 a skill that requires preparation and practice. Even though you will plan these details about yourself, keep a back-and-forth going, she added. You don鈥檛 want to deliver a staged pitch that feels over-rehearsed.
鈥淚t's got to be a two-way conversation with the other person,鈥 Jackson-Cox said.
鈥淏ecause, again, you鈥檙e trying to get insights from that person, and to be very curious about their career and what鈥檚 happening in their companies and their industries.鈥
Business cards are still relevant for swapping contacts, Jackson-Cox added, even as digital options gain ground. At a busy event, recruiters might slip your business card into a specific pocket if you鈥檝e impressed them 鈥 right pocket versus left might be how they remember you later.
LinkedIn remains a staple for online networking, and take advantage of groups such as professional associations, alumni groups, special interest organizations and cultural groups, Jackson-Cox said. Other platforms such as Instagram and TikTok may also be necessary if your industry is dominant on them.
Although the youngest job-seeking generation is likely savvy about cleaning up their public social profiles for any prospective employers 鈥 yes, they will Google you 鈥 Jackson-Cox said she still sees some people running into trouble from connections.
鈥淪o you might not write, and you might not have a picture, of something inappropriate on your profile, but someone else might have 鈥 interacted with you, so you鈥檙e being pulled into their socials,鈥 she said. 鈥淪o from social to social, you know? You鈥檙e vulnerable to other people鈥檚 decisions and choices as well.鈥
But don鈥檛 hide online either, Stephenson said. It鈥檚 important to have an accessible presence that makes sense for your long-term goals. Even though you want a job sooner rather than later, networking efforts can last your whole career.
鈥淚 think the term 鈥榥etworking鈥 creates a level of stress in people,鈥 Stephenson said, 鈥渆ither because of the social aspect, or we鈥檙e proclaimed introverts. Instead of calling it 鈥榥etworking,鈥 it鈥檚 about building connection. It鈥檚 about really investing in those relationships, and starting small with people, and building from there.鈥
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2024.
