As I am in the process of job hunting, one thing I have learned is that it is important to maintain and expand your professional network. These days, it is very hard to just apply for a company and get a job. Usually, you would have to know someone inside the company to even get a phone interview. In the past, it was a different story and job market wasn’t competitive as of today. Therefore, there are multiple ways to expand your professional network.
First thing is to attend any local networking events that you’re interested or might be in your interest. Before attending the event, you would want to get a personal business card to market yourself. I used VistaPrint to create my card. From my peers, I learned that paying a few dollars to customize your card would make a huge difference compared to getting a free card. Their perception would be different and think that you are very serious in making connections and relationships. Another way is create a LinkedIn profile and connect to many people that you know as possible. Professional employers and employees are starting use this social networking site to recruit new prospective clients and people. As you meet new people everyday, you’re expanding your network and increasing the chances of getting that dream job or you increase the chance of discovering new sales or market opportunities in order to grow your company. In conclusion, it is very important to be open and connect with many people as you can to be successful in this competitive working environment.
