Are you just about to graduate from college or university and looking for your first job? Or perhaps just moved to Canada and need to land a suitable job that meets your qualifications? Well then you sure have heard the golden phrase: “Networking is the best way to find a job”! But what is networking all about? And is it really that crucial? You bet!
A network is simply a group of people you’re connected to through family, friends, work, education, and community. This group of people is a valuable resource that can help you find a job.1
Think about it this way: As a new graduate or newcomer, the employers do not know 
about you and your excellent capabilities. However, they are willing to take a risk and give you a job, if someone they know and trust (i.e. a network) recommends you for the job. On top of that, your networks help you find out and apply for jobs which might never even be publicized (e.g. hidden job).
As Lou Adler, highlights in his book “The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired”, applying directly to a job posting should only take up to 20% of your total time looking for a job. Sixty percent should be on networking! 2
Networking is all about expanding your relationships and letting the world (or at least some key people in your area of interest) know about you, your capabilities and what you can offer to any potential employer.
All right, so now that we have talked about networking and its importance in getting your first job, how do we go about to create and expand our network? Well, that’s the topic which we’ll be talking about in the next article. Until then, feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Can you think of the value of networking for purposes other than getting your first job?
——————————————————
1 youth.gc.ca
2 LinkedIn Pulse