Networking

Networking tips

Always start with friends and family.
Be friendly and helpful, others will be more willing to help you in turn.
Volunteer for events in or outside school
Join a club or some group-based activity.
Think about how you can help others first.

Network as widely as possible to help you find out about different careers and make links with a wide range of people and organisations. Offer your services as a volunteer - you never know where this might take you. People will appreciate you and you may create more opportunities for yourself if you have the support of others. Download our networking sheet and start making connections!

Become a volunteer

Link to the Clubs & Activities page for some ideas.

Tweets by @Crea8ingCareers

'Many recruiters now use LinkedIn to find (or check up on) suitable candidates.

If you have a LinkedIn pRofile, make sure it's focused on the kind of job you're looking for, and use a professional-looking photograph.

It will make you more memorable.'

David Thomas, David Thomas Media

Use LinkedIn to share your professional and educational achievements. It's like sharing an online CV and a great way of making contacts with others in your areas of interest.

BeKnown from Monster.co.uk

BeKnown from monster allows you to use their professional network on Facebook to link with other and use it to find jobs and start your professional networking.

Facebook & Twitter

Find out what friends and their families do and ask how to become involved in their particular career field. Remember be careful what you choose to post, employers may use this to check you out. Think about creating two profiles; one with high level privacy settings for friends and another as a public face for potential employers to see.

Map your Network

Use the Networking tree to think about all the areas in your life where you have connections; from school, college, friends, family, clubs/hobbies. What careers and industries are they involved with? How can you help them? How may they help you?

Networking tree
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Get in touch

Think about how to apply these ideas to yourself, whether you are still at school, have just left, at college/university or looking for a job.