Don't Have Experience? Start Networking. Tips on Face-To-Face Networking
The old adage “it is not what you know, but whom you know” is very, very true…especially when looking for a job.
It has been widely reported that healthcare is one of the fastest growing job sectors. However, newly graduated nurses (for example) are finding it extremely hard to find a job, due to their lack of real-world experience.
This means that, regardless of the media hype, many newly graduated healthcare workers are finding it extremely hard to find jobs.
So, networking is a must and not just online networking. People advocate for those they know, like and trust. It can take months and years to build trust via social media; the process is much quicker face-to-face.
Face-to-face networking can be nerve-wracking. Walking into a crowded room full of stranglers can cause the best of us to break out into a cold sweat.
Remember, networking can be done among friends and family as well. Classmates can turn into key career connections. Keep in touch after graduation. People get promoted, and you will never know who might reach out to you when that happens.
However, keeping in touch with school chums is a long-term networking strategy. So what can you do today to help you land your first job? The answer is more networking. Here are 4 tips:
- Find a friend. It is always easier to walk into a crowded room with another person. Once that initial fear and dread falls to the wayside, you will be surprised how little you will actually see your friend.
- Mingle. You and your friend must split up at some point. Spending all your time with someone you already know defeats the purpose of networking. Keep in mind that everyone there is looking to meet other people and expand their horizons. You will be surprised how easy conversations flow.
- Follow up. You can go to a networking event every day, but if you don’t follow up with the contacts you made, it will be a waste of time. Within 48 hours after each event, follow up in some way, even if it’s just a quick e-mail saying how nice it was to meet them or an invite to connect on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.
- Integrate online and offline networking efforts. After you have followed up, incorporate your new real-world networking contacts into your social networking efforts. Once you are connected online, continue to post thoughtful, relevant content to highlight your value. In addition, try to meet online contacts in a real-life coffee shop (for example) in order to broaden and enhance those relationships.
Networking is truly like cold-calling. For many healthcare professionals, this is not a core competency. But, the more you do it, the less scary it will be, and the results will amaze you.
At Snelling Medical Professionals, we understand the healthcare job market. We can be your advocate as well. If you are a new graduate with no real-life clinical experience, accepting a temporary position is a great way to bridge this gap. So, visit our website to locate the nearest Snelling Medical Professionals office, and contact us today!
By Christiane Soto, 
