5 networking tips for blue-collar workers

• 2-minute read •
If you’re a blue-collar worker, you might think you can grow your career without relying on networking, simply because that type of thing isn’t typically associated with your industry.

But being able to make connections, build relationships and leverage your contacts are critical components to career success, regardless of what duties your job entails.

“When you’re a passive job seeker, you’re being complacent,” which can hinder your ability to get promoted or recruited, says Laurie Grove, director of career services at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

Take these five steps to build your network.

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Networking Tips That Won't Blow Your Cover

• 2-minute read •
If you've got a job, you probably want to hold on to it until you find another one, even if it's less than ideal. But remember, in most states, employment is at-will, meaning you can be fired for almost any reason (so long as it is not discriminatory) — including looking for a new position.

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Networking for the Shy

• 2-minute read •
If you're shy, it can be easy to think that you can bypass having to meet new people — that is, networking — by doing outstanding work. Not so, says Meghan Wier, author of Confessions of an Introvert: The Shy Girl's Guide to Career, Networking and Getting the Most Out of Life.

"If you're not looking to move up or learn anything new, then by all means avoid networking," she says. "But if you want to bring more to your job and expand your career in any way, then it helps an awful lot to know the right people."

The good news is that networking doesn't mean glad-handing 100 strangers at a mixer.

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Networking - 5 Things You Want The Other Person To Know About You

Networking is one of the fastest ways to find new opportunities for your career, but it's also one of the most daunting. Walking into a room full of people you don't know, attempting to eat stale crackers without spraying crumbs on the intimidating professional you're talking to, all while trying to think of a clever way to ask for a job -- is it any wonder that networking is often passed over for less interactive forms of job searching?

Before you delete the next networking-event email, follow these tips for not only surviving a networking event but making a positive impression and helping your career. Here are the five things you want the people you're networking with to know about you:

1. Your contact information and "elevator pitch"
You should always carry business cards with you, but it's especially important at a networking event. Even if you're currently employed, having a quick and convenient way to give someone your contact information makes it easier to make connections. There are websites that will print affordable, custom business cards for you. Include your name, title or industry, email address and phone number, as well as any personal websites or online portfolios.

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Expand your network by sending thank you letters

Sending a thank you or follow-up letter within 24 hours of an interview is not a new idea, but it is still a good idea. A key reason to send a thank you letter is to nurture new and existing relationships. Plan to send a thank you letter to all the people that assist in your job search.


This group includes the people that you meet during an interview; your existing contacts that provide written recommendations, and any friend (or friends of friends) that offer career related leads or information.



Thank you is a good place to start relationships that will greatly contribute to your ability to secure the right job in record time! Unless you have a good reason for sending a card or a handwritten letter to your target reader, plan to send an e-mail that is easy to produce. Use the subject line to note "thank you for the interview". This action demonstrates a respect for their busy schedule and an understanding that they may want to read this e-mail after they have read all their urgent e-mails.



Start every thank you letter by expressing your appreciation for the interest and time that people have invested in your career. Then, when you highlight that you are still interested in securing a new challenge, take this opportunity to feature your most relevant skills. For
example, "My interest in working for (the name of the company or organization) is stronger than ever, and based on your description of the position, I know that my previous experience in (specify) provides the expertise required to make immediate contributions to your team."



End your letter using the "opening the door" technique.


Your closing paragraph for a thank you letter related to an interview should clearly state when you will call to schedule a meeting time. For example, "I would like to meet with you again to discuss this position. If I do not hear from you within the next five days, I will call you to schedule a convenient time to meet. In the meantime, I will be happy to provide any other information you may need to assist in your decision."



When you are writing to someone that has already provided information, your "opening the door" approach will reflect an appreciation for the assistance provided. In this situation, focus on advising your contact that you will provide an update on the progress of your job search. Your update should detail how the information they provided contributed to your success.



Networking after the initial contact is easy when you have something as important as thank you to communicate. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your job search network!

5 Ways to Refresh Your Outdated Network

When Steven Spenser, 52, was laid off from his Seattle-area software company in 2001, he decided to become a stay-at-home dad. Seven years later, when he started looking for full-time work, he faced a problem: All his old contacts and job references were seven to 12 years old.

"Tracking down my previous references proved problematic since many of the companies were Internet startups that have gone out of business," Spenser says. "I've found that two are willing to sing my praises again, but I have no one to direct to them."

The process of his network becoming outdated was gradual, he says. Spenser continued to see old colleagues and work friends socially for a few months after his layoff, so he didn't foresee any point at which he would fall out of touch with them. Eventually, his former co-workers stopped calling and he was too busy to notice.

"Being a first-time father kept me so preoccupied for a few years that I didn't really bother thinking about the downstream effects of not keeping in touch with anyone," Spenser says.

Many people these days are in Spenser's position: After working at the same business or for only a few companies throughout their careers, workers are finding themselves unemployed with an outdated Rolodex and no job references in sight. Though experts recommend networking constantly, many professionals find it difficult to maintain business relationships and keep up with everyday life.

"After awhile goes by of being out of touch, the withdrawal takes on a life of its own and it can seem harder to get back into touch than just do nothing and let the status become quo," Spenser says.

To avoid running into this problem, the idea obviously is not to let your network get outdated in the first place.

"People need to keep their network alive long before they are laid off and in search of a job," says Thom Singer, author of "The ABC's of Networking." "To wait to contact someone until you have a major need, like needing a job, will make you look like a taker: 'Hi, I have found you useless to keep in touch with for five years, but now I am hoping you will drop everything and help me,' just does not fly."

So how do you go about finding contacts that have fallen off your radar?

Start rebuilding

To begin renewing his network, Spenser did Google searches, looked on online White Pages and checked directory assistance. He finally found one former supervisor through his son's company Web site. He was able to track down a former client by finding his new business information online. Both contacts were very willing to help Spenser and serve as a continued reference.

Not all people are accepted so openly, however, when trying to refresh cold contacts. If you find yourself needing to contact someone you haven't spoken with in a long time, you should own up that you dropped the ball, Singer says.

"Tell people that you never understood why networking mattered and thus had not done a good job of keeping up," Singer suggests. "Admit that this stint of being unemployed and in need of help is humbling and that you've learned a lesson. People are more likely to want to help someone who is honest like that than one who calls up expecting assistance after not ever calling before."

If you're looking for ways to update your network, here are some ways to get the process started:

1. Make a list

Create a list of everyone you know and have known, whether or not you know where they are today, suggests Duncan Mathison, an author, speaker and consultant on companies and professionals impacted by layoffs. Circulate the list to people you have stayed in touch with and they can often fill in the blanks, reintroduce you and even remind you of others who would be worthwhile to connect with.

2. Perform a Google search

Start by typing in the full name of the person you are searching for, says Melissa Cassera, publicity specialist. Try searching for the full name + the state in which the person lives. If you find a name but no contact information, try typing in the full name + the word "e-mail" or "phone."

3. Contact your undergraduate or business school

You may score current contact information by responding to requests from your alma mater's alumni association, says Debra Condren, business psychologist, coach, author and founder of AmbitionIsNotADirtyWord.com. Update your own contact information and professional biography and stay visible to your former classmates, she says. "Let folks know what you're up to and they may surprise you with a blast-from-the-past phone call or e-mail, just when you were wondering how to find them."

4. Use social networks

Look up old colleagues on LinkedIn, Plaxo, Jigsaw, Brightfuse and Facebook, Cassera suggests. Many of these sites have search functions where you can search by company -- even if people have left the organization, there's a good chance they've listed it in their previous work history.

5. Fill in the gaps

If you are missing links in your network, you must replace or renew them. Revisit your trade organization, attend local networking events and use your current database to get connected to new contacts, says David Hults, author of "From Cornered to Corner Office." If you're laid off, ask people who would be good contacts. Some will surely know the "movers and shakers" in your industry.

The art of networking

Essentially, networking is getting to know people who can help you develop your career prospects. You don't need to be a big shot or the most outgoing person in the world to network effectively.

Take it a step at a time. Begin with people you know, at work and in your social life. Keep your ears open and listen for information that could work to your advantage.

What are the benefits of networking?
A lot of good jobs never make it to the pages of a recruitment website or newspaper. They get filled by word of mouth and the more senior the position, the more often it happens this way.

Even if the job is advertised, it helps to know someone inside the new organisation who can give you the inside line. They may even end up interviewing you which will always make it a less stressful experience.

Like any other form of social behaviour, networking follows certain rules to follow:

• First impressions count - both face-to-face and via the phone or email. Always stay sharp.
• Don't ask directly for a job - networking is not a job fair; it's an opportunity to gather potentially useful information.
• Give and take - networking is a two-way exchange, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
• Do the groundwork - research your contacts before meeting them and always follow up good leads or they pass on.
• Think laterally – try to expand your network outwards, beyond your comfort zone or usual sphere of operation.
• Patience is a virtue – getting involved in networking is being in there for the long haul; don't expect to land a plum job at your first meeting.

Building your network
Even if you're new to the game, you may have lots of worthwhile contacts you hadn't seen in that way before:

• Old school, college or university classmates
• Distant family members
• Your friends' family
• Your doctor, lawyer or accountant
• Former colleagues or bosses
• Club members or anyone else you meet socially

Keep good records of who you meet and the conversations you've had - there's no point building a network of contacts that you then forget. Also aim to stay in regular touch even when you're not after anything specific. You don't want to be known as the person who only ever gets in touch when they're after a favour.

Networking events and conferences are good ways to build a network if you're not sure where to start. Make sure you know why you are there and what you want out of it and make sure you have a few copies of your CV or some business cards to hand out to the important contacts you meet.

Don't wait until you've lost your job before picking up the phone to speak to people in your industry – even if you're happy in your role and the company is in a stable position, there's never any certainty as to what could be around the corner.

Networking 2.0
If you're not used to the idea yet, networking can be scary; like it's something for super-confident types who get all the best jobs anyway. But that's not the whole story. People are well-used to networking as a valuable business tool.

The Internet has made networking a viable option for everyone and there are many forums and business networking sites which enable business people to share and discuss their views and knowledge.

As long as you can keep a good barrier between your personal and professional online presence, this is a great way to pick up on the latest goings on in your industry, but can never completely replace actually getting out and showing your face.