(Written by Sue Posluszny, Career Counselor)

Networking is the number one most effective job search strategy with some saying that networking accounts for about 80% of all jobs that are landed. Yet many people, especially introverts, can tend to avoid networking. In my opinion, we all network all the time, we just don’t realize we’re doing it. If you don’t believe me, consider my favorite definition of networking (offered by Anne Baber & Lynne Waymon in their book, Make Your Contacts Count):

“…the deliberate process of exchanging information, resources, and access in a way as to create mutually beneficial relationships for personal and professional success”.

Yes, you exchange information, resources and access in a way that’s mutually supportive on a daily basis…like when you recommend a great restaurant to a friend or meet a colleague who tells you about an upcoming seminar that supports your professional development goals. Yet, many tend to struggle with networking how to’s…especially, as I said earlier, introverts. So, for all you introverts out there, here are a few resources that I found on-line today. I hope they help you (or an introvert you know) realize that introverts are great networkers.

http://www.job-hunt.org/guides/Job-Hunt-job-networking-for-introverts.pdf  
(and in the spirit of the holiday season)
http://www.job-hunt.org/job-search-for-introverts/holiday-networking-introverts.shtml

Until next time…
Sue Posluszny
www.careeroptions4me.com

For more information about me and my qualifications, please click here (link to http://www.careeroptions4me.com/About.htm)