The ICT Job Hunter Blog

Making contacts through networking is one thing, but keeping them is, of course, quite another.  Today I am going to take a rather tongue-in-cheek look at network relationship-building.

1.    Only communicate with your contact when you want something.  There is, after all, no point in wasting your own time or his, in between times.

2.    Try not to listen too hard when your contact is talking.  You will not be able to concentrate properly on what you want to ask for next.

3.    Never offer advice or support to your contacts.  They might be going through a rough time and need help, but if you are there for them, how are they ever going to learn to stand on their own two feet?

4.    Never provide your fellow networkers with any information.  Remember, information is power, and you don’t want to be giving all of yours away.

5.    Never refer your contacts for jobs – especially if you think they would make a perfect match.  Imagine how you are going to feel if they become more successful than you?

6.    If one of your contacts offers to refer you for a job, always accept, even if you don’t intend turning up for the meeting.  If you say no, he might not offer again.

7.    Always be sure to promise your contacts the earth, regardless of whether you can deliver.  Remember, the more you promise them, the greater their sense of obligation to give you something even bigger in return.

8.    Never demonstrate your expertise – doing so is only likely to make your fellow networkers feel insecure about all the stuff they don’t know.  Besides, you could be running the risk of them pumping you for information which they then use to their own advantage. 

9.    When asking for something from your contacts, make sure that you are as vague as possible about the kind of work you are seeking.  For one thing, you don’t want to go limiting your options, and for another, networking is like a game of bluff and the best strategy is to play your cards close to your chest.

10. Never be sociable with your networking contacts.  Don’t meet with them for drinks, meals or social occasions or otherwise mix business with pleasure.  You will only be running the risk of them thinking of you as a friend – and you don’t need any more friends, right?

11. Always be sure to ask for whatever you need from your networking contacts as early in the relationship as possible.  After all, there is no point in beating around the bush, is there?

12. Don’t bother about keeping your contacts updated on your job search.  It will just take away valuable time from your, and their job search efforts.  Save your contact until you really need something from them.

13.  Never tell your networking contacts anything personal about yourself.  You are, after all, just a lean, mean working machine and not a real person.

14. Never introduce your networking contacts to one another.  You don’t want to run the risk of them building better networking relationships than you have.

15. Don’t invest too much effort in your relationships.  Remember, as soon as you have found the job of your dreams, you are going to drop these contacts like a ton of hot bricks anyway – well, at least until the next time you need them.

16. Never, ever give anything away, whether it be advice, support, information or anything else unless you absolutely have to.  If you really cannot avoid it, make sure that you get a firm, up-front commitment to receiving something greater in return.

17. If you think that one of your contacts may be able to refer you for a position but he doesn’t seem particularly forthcoming, consider offering him a bribe.  He will respect you much more if you put your money where your mouth is.

18. Dump immediately any contact who does not produce results straight away – patience really is over-rated.  Some people are just full of hot air and often it is necessary to cut your losses and move on to the next sucker…er, contact.

19. Never forget the old adage about putting all your eggs in one basket.  Where networking is concerned, quantity is everything, so make sure that you just keep adding as many new contacts to your list as possible.

20. Don’t waste your time and notepaper writing thank you letters to all and sundry.  Your networking contacts are only there to serve you, after all, so why should they need your thanks?