Part of any job search should be tapping your network of contacts. Whether you are connected on LinkedIn, Facebook, or another social network, the people you are connected to are a valuable resource that can help you secure your next great opportunity.



It takes a thoughtful approach to effectively tap your network. You have to help your network to help you by being targeted, specific, and considerate.





Target Your Outreach



Avoid sending appeals to your entire network. Make a phone call or send a personalized email with your request. You may need to remind the person how you are connected (“we met at the conference last year” or “we have a mutual friend in so-and-so”) and you definitely need to be specific about why you are reaching out.



I recently was contacted through LinkedIn by someone whose name I did not immediately recall. Her message helped me to remember how we became connected. Her message also offered the specific reason that she was reaching out to me and asked for an introduction to someone I am connected to. Because she gave me the context I needed, it was easy for me to help.



I have received other requests from connections that are a mass appeal for help with a job search. The messages are clearly sent to all connections and don’t give me a good idea of what the person is looking for in a job. There’s no context about desired position level, location, or type of work. These get handled with the delete button.



Help Others to Help You



You know your job search best. None of your contacts, even close friends and colleagues, are as invested in you getting the right job. So, you need to be specific to help others to help you.



Rather than a general message asking for help with your job search, send a specific request. Ask for a reference or a skill endorsement. Ask about a specific job or company that you are interested in that is relevant to your contact.



I recently shared information about a job opening on LinkedIn. I served in the position in the past and offered to answer questions. One of my connections responded with specifics – could I review her skills statement and offer feedback on the relevance for that job? I was happy to help. Another contact replied, “tell me about it.” I honestly had no idea what he wanted to know; rather than spend time writing a response that didn’t address his questions about the job (whatever they may be), I did not respond at all.



Make it Easy



We network because we want to give and get information. That doesn’t mean, however, that your network has a lot of time to help you with your job search. Best respectful when you reach out: give your contact time to reply, be specific in what he or she can do to help you, and, when you get a response, acknowledge any help with a word of thanks.



As I commented to a friend the other day, looking for a job is a job in itself. Leveraging your network can help with many aspects of your search. It is tempting to try to get others to do some of the heavy lifting required. Use your network, but do so in a strategic way. Be sure to tap only those people who you think can truly help with a specific request and keep in mind that basic courtesies go a long way.