Networking
Effective Career Networking
You will have heard about the importance of networking in building a career. This section and its resources summarises what networking is, why it is important and how to do it well. Visit the Networking Resources page to develop specific aspects of your networking skills.
What is networking about?
By expanding the number of people you know and who know you, it is possible to get access to a wide range of advice and support in planning your career and finding out about opportunities. As well as getting support from contacts, a good networker finds ways of giving back to the network.
Why is networking important for career planning?
It is easier to have a clear idea of what a job involves if you have talked to someone who does it. There are many job opportunities which you may only hear about through contacts in the field and you will have a greater chance of success in job applications if you can get advice from people who work in the organisation or industry.
Contacts can help you to:
- understand what a career involves and the various routes into it
- research careers in depth
- identify sources of information and vacancies
- obtain work-experience
- identify further contacts
- prepare effectively for job applications and interviews