Following on from Networking, Networking LISTS comprises some simple, straightforward examples of how you can compose any lists you’ve compiled for networking purposes

When we consider face to face networking (relationship building), we want to draw up a list of people based on the following

A. People you know on a first name basis

B. Other persons you see or have contact with, either on a regular or occasional basis

C. Agencies, groups, charitable and voluntary organisations

On your first list, labelled A, write out the names of the people you know and beside each person write down their relationship to you, whether they are friends, family, employers, or other job searchers like yourself.
On the second list, labelled B, write down the person’s name if you know it, but if you do not know someone’s name, then find another way to make reference to them. For instance, the person with black hair at the local job center. The friendly shop assistant at the local supermarket. The purpose of this is to identify potential sources of networking opportunity. Once you have drawn up these basic lists, we then need to decide on a plan of action for how we are going to approach these people.
Remember that local groups and voluntary organisations can also provide great opportunities for networking as well. On your third list, labelled C, note down the organisations in your local area and get involved with any you think may provide opportunities for you

NETWORKING LIST A

PEOPLE KNOWN ON A FIRST NAME BASIS

Tallis – Friend. Ask if he knows of any companies that are hiring

Alan – Close friend. Ask if he knows of any companies that are hiring. Get him to enquire with his friends and family

Wilma – Family member. Ask her if she knows of any companies that are hiring. Ask her if the company where she works is hiring. Get her to enquire with friends as well

Fiona – Friend. Ask if she knows of any companies that are hiring

Beverley – Former colleague. Ask him if the company where he now works is hiring

David – Former colleague. Ask him if the company where he got his new job is hiring

Nicolas – Family member. Ask him if he knows of any companies that are hiring. Ask him if the company where he works is hiring. Get him to enquire with friends as well

Jonathan – Fellow jobseeker. Ask where he has recently applied for work. Ask him if he knows of any job fairs or job seminars. Ask him if he knows of any companies that are hiring

Michael – Friend. Ask if he knows of any companies that are hiring

Selene – Former colleague. Ask her if the company where she now works is hiring

William – Close friend. Ask if he knows of any companies that are hiring. Get him to enquire with his friends and family

Leona – Family member. Ask her if she knows of any companies that are hiring. Ask her if the company where she works is hiring. Get her to enquire with friends as well

Michelle – Former colleague. Ask her if the company where she now works is hiring

Sheppard – Fellow jobseeker. Ask where he has recently applied for work. Ask him if he knows of any job fairs or job seminars. Ask him if he knows of any companies that are hiring

Christopher – Former colleague. Ask him if the company where he now works is hiring

Simon – Fellow jobseeker. Ask where he has recently applied for work. Ask him if he knows of any job fairs or job seminars. Ask him if he knows of any companies that are hiring

NETWORKING LIST B

PEOPLE SEEN ON A REGULAR OR OCCASIONAL BASIS

Jal, the friendly shop assistant at the local supermarket
Try to start a conversation with her next time I’m in the store. I’ll steer it onto the subject of the economy (perhaps by mentioning a recent news article), and then I’ll follow through by mentioning that I’ve been looking for work.  I’ll then ask if there are any jobs going in the supermarket

Person behind the counter at the local takeaway I see when walking along the main street
I will take quite a direct approach as I don’t know this person very well

I will enter the store at a time when it’s quiet. Going on a weekday when it first opens would be the best time. I will take a C.V as well just in case. When I enter the store, I will have a warm and friendly greeting for this person. The first thing I will say is that I live locally in the area, then I will tell them that I go by the store regularly and have noticed that it’s usually quite busy. That then leaves me an opening to tell them a bit about my background and work history. I will do this by ensuring I make my work history as relatable to the role as I can as regards my ability to deal with the public.
If I don’t have any work history, I will try and find something else I have done in my life; an amateur football club I played for, a team I support, or an online Facebook group I am involved with; that I can use to relate my ability to interact well with others and emphasize my suitability for the role

Tall man with black hair that drives the bus
I feel I can build some rapport with this person even although I don’t know him very well at present

A bus driver will talk with many people on a daily basis, so might know of good places where jobs are. I will try to be first on so I can sit close to the driver. I can’t talk with them while they are driving, but I can make conversation when we are stopped to take on passengers, or at times when there are other scheduled stops. During our conversations I will mention that I’m currently job hunting, and see if he mentions anything in return…

Knowledgeable librarian who works behind the counter at the local library who told me she likes science fiction books
There is a lot I can potentially talk to this person about. As I enjoy reading books too, I think it should be easy to start a conversation with her. An indirect approach will probably work best here; I go to the library on a somewhat regular basis, so it should be easy to build up a good rapport with her. She may be a good source of information, as she will be talking with lots of different types of people on a regular basis. My approach here will be to casually mention how my job search is going from time to time during our conversations, and see if she says anything useful in return  

The attractive hairdresser who works at the local barbershop
I don’t go into the barbershop often, so a direct approach will probably be best. This should be one of the easier targets on my list, because in this sort of circumstance it should be easy for me to start a conversation. I’ll simply mention that I’m looking for work, and then casually ask if she knows of anywhere that might be hiring

Quinn, the helpful assistant behind the counter at the council offices
It may be best to try and build a little rapport with this person first as I think it might make them more helpful

Although I only see this person infrequently, trying to start a basic conversation with her by asking how her weekend was, asking her option about sports or what team she supports, talking to her about current political issues, or even telling her a bit about how it is to be living on benefits week by week, might be a good way to get on a first name basis with her. I want to do this because I know that being on a first name basis with someone in the right situation can yield dividends. Once I’m on a conversational level, it becomes easier to fish for information both indirectly, by mentioning that I’m looking for work, or directly, by asking if she knows of anywhere that’s hiring. On top of this, it’s also a good way to practice conversational skills and social techniques that I can use in other aspects of my social life

The talkative vendor that sells from the stall in the city square
Again, this should be another person who it’s easy to start a conversation with

This is another person who has the opportunity to speak with lots of different people and could possibly be very helpful. I think it’s best to go with an indirect approach here and try to establish a genuine rapport with this person first  

In the normal way that I go about building rapport with someone, it will involve me trying to find a find common ground with him. This might be sports, music, news, movies, etc. Because this is someone I might see on a quasi-regular basis, I think bringing up the fact that I’m out of a job and looking for work to see if he mentions anything helpful is probably a better approach than pressing him for information directly

J-Dub, the person I talk to in the jobcentre every week who is looking for work like me
We’ve spoken before and have a basic rapport due to our shared circumstance, so it should be easy for me to get a conversation going with him. I will probably be able to get good information simply by asking direct questions. Talk about what you did to look for work this week, ask him what he did to look for work, and if he knows of any places that are hiring

The person who told me their name was Sal, that stands outside smoking a cigarette opposite from the post office where I collect my giro, whom I sometimes speak with
I have spoken with this person before and we had an interesting conversation. I will approach them again the next time that I see them and try to build more rapport with them. An indirect approach will work best here, and I can steer the topic onto jobs by mentioning the economy or a current news article. Then I will mention that I am unemployed and that I have been looking hard to get work, but that I’m finding it difficult to find decent opportunities and see what they say

Jim, a person who supports the same team as me, who I occasionally speak with at the bus stop
I can speak about the things I have in common with this person, and an indirect approach here works fine because I can slip it anywhere into the conversation that I’m looking for work. People like this always have the potential to be good sources of information, it’ll be interesting to see what he says to me in return – and even if he doesn’t have information for me, at least I’ll be on my way to making a new friend

NETWORKING LIST C

AGENCIES, GROUPS, CHARITABLE OR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

Freemason’s Grand Charity on Harper Street
I can visit this place in person, or contact them by phone or email to find out more about what they do

Try to speak with the people that work there and get a feel for what goes on; I will try and establish if being involved with this organisation either as a member, or as a volunteer, will provide any good networking opportunities for me

Historic Royal Palaces in Britannia Square
I can visit this place in person, or contact them by phone or email to find out more about what they do

Try to speak with the people that work there and get a feel for what goes on; I will try and establish if being involved with this organisation either as a member, or as a volunteer, will provide any good networking opportunities for me

Town Hamlets Volunteer Center, 50 Bread Street
I can visit this place in person, or contact them by phone or email to find out more about what they do

Try to speak with the people that work there and get a feel for what goes on; I will try and establish if being involved with this organisation either as a member, or as a volunteer, will provide any good networking opportunities for me

Social clubs of England….
I can visit this place in person, or contact them by phone or email to find out more about what they do

Try to speak with the people that work there and get a feel for what goes on; I will try and establish if being involved with this organisation either as a member, or as a volunteer, will provide any good networking opportunities for me

Volunteer Service Overseas
I can visit this place in person, or contact them by phone or email to find out more about what they do

Try to speak with the people that work there and get a feel for what goes on; I will try and establish if being involved with this organisation either as a member, or as a volunteer, will provide any good networking opportunities for me