However, candidates often consider networking a difficult process. Many don't know how to start and whom to network with. Likewise, candidates are concerned about looking like a sycophant while networking with high profile individuals. Thus, find the starting point of networking without presenting yourself obsequiously by following these tips:Keep in touch with your career supervisor
The career supervisor can be your college coordinator or internship supervisor who you directly work under. They know you inside out if you have maintained a good relationship with them. Organizations tend to contact colleges for internship and full time job openings. If you were involved in extracurricular activities and maintained good relationship with college coordinator even after graduation, then they are likely to refer you for any openings.
Similarly, most of the organizations prefer to hire candidates who have worked as interns. It is not that interns are considered because they have learnt something significant in their tenure. They are preferred as they have learnt the working culture of an organization. Once the organization feels that you have learnt its culture, they feel more comfortable preferring you for full time commitment. Thus keep in touch via phone, social media, or visits so that they remember you.
Know your neighbors and friends' parents
Nepal is a small country. The person living right behind your house could be the CEO of a bank. Similarly, you go to your friends' home and chances are their parents are high ranking government officials or heading an INGO. These are the people you would want to network with. So make an effort to know them. However, don't expect to be hired right away. Your strategy should be to make a good impression to them, and seek advice with them regarding what skills and attributes are preferred in their respective industry. You never know, your enthusiasm might encourage them to recommend you for a job.
Get to know your college seniors
In a job interview, a candidate handed her resume to the interviewer. After going through the resume, the interviewer revealed that he also went to the same college that the candidate graduated from. Imagine how comfortable you would feel to know that your college alumnus is interviewing you.
Therefore, with the help of your college, you can organize an annual alumni meet to get to know your seniors who have reached in decision making level. Employees will always have a soft corner for those candidates who went to the same college.
Make your own business card
You might be wondering what the point of an unemployed person having a business card is. Well, the point is, unemployed persons are the ones who need to have a business card. They are the ones who need to make sure that people remember them. A visiting card should be simple; include your full name, highest degree, and contact details. Share it during family gatherings, seminars, college events, etc. As this is fairly a new trend in Nepal, you can create quite an impression by producing a business card. People will definitely remember you.
Leverage your strength
Networking is never a one-way street. You have to always find ways to benefit the other party first, only then will s/he do something for you. You might be good at fixing computers, good with calculation, or have good event planning skills. These are some of the ways you can create value to your network. These tangible skills not only make you visible but also let your network know what you actually can do in a job. So, by being beneficial to others, you actually end up becoming valuable to them.
The writer is an associate with Jobs Dynamics Pvt Ltd, an organization driven towards providing the widest range of job solutions to people looking for work in Nepal. He can be reached at rajiv@jobsdynamics.com.
Related story
Concerns arise over dubious networking business ‘Indian Vestige...
-1778746562.webp)
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
