Many people dismiss networking as simply "asking around" but it's much more than that - it can be the key to hearing about a job before other job seekers do, to standing out in a crowd of applicants and to getting ahead in your chosen field.

As Job Search Tool
It's important to use networking and job-listing research in conjunction with each other. You might be shocked to learn that over 75% of available positions are never publicly advertised and most are filled via word of mouth. With percentages like that, you can see what a vital tool networking is for getting as much information as possible and for finding the right job. Networking means that you can link yourself with someone known to the hiring manager. This type of "insider" connection means you will have an edge in your first interview over an applicant who is just one of many names on a list.

As Learning Opportunity
Hearing the first-hand experiences and impressions of someone in the industry where you want to work gives you an insider's view of a job that's hard to beat. It also gives you leads for your research and can lead you to information you wouldn't have otherwise found or known existed.

As Ongoing Practice
Networking is also a valuable tool that can help you as you move forward in your career. Two great ways to make networking part of your regular workplace experience are rotational programs, and professional and trade association memberships. Many companies - particularly larger ones - have formal rotational programs that offer new graduates an opportunity to experience more than one aspect of the firm and get a broader view of their industry as a whole. Not only will these programs expose you to different areas of the company, they'll bring you into contact with more people from different departments as well. Professional societies offer the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals, and these activities can be of tremendous help in making valuable contacts and staying abreast of new developments in your chosen field.

Make the Most of Networking

• Be prepared to talk about your talents, skills, and career goals with confidence. Show passion about your future so your contact feels confident about recommending you to people they know.

• Be succinct. You want to be informative but not long-winded.

• Instead of asking about specific jobs, ask for and listen to advice. People love giving advice and talking about their own achievements, so ask about their backgrounds and professional choices and try to take lessons from what you hear.

• Keep business cards with contact information with you at all times and make sure to ask politely for cards in return.

• Shortly after meeting a new contact, follow up with an email telling them how much you appreciate the time they took to speak with you and how you enjoyed your meeting.

• Keep at it. Networking as a career development tool does not stop once you get your first job. It will be a valuable way to help you move up the career ladder.

Networking can happen anywhere and at anytime. You never know who might be useful to you in your career search. It might be the person sitting next to you on an airplane, the interviewer at a job fair, or a relative you see at a family event. You should always be ready to network.