Networking is the process of building mutually beneficial relationships that provide knowledge, advice, information and further contacts, all of which help focus and advance career goals. Recently, networking has proven to be more valuable than ever. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently found that 70 percent of jobs are secured through networking. Especially since the economic downturn, finding jobs has become increasingly difficult. A Fiscal Policy Institute Report states that “Among unemployed New Yorkers, half have been without a job for more than six months, and 29 percent have been jobless for more than a year.” The recent increase in unemployment has naturally led to a rise in competition among individuals. Networking provides an edge: it allows individuals to be more than just words on their resumes. But like cooking, driving, or any other skill, networking requires proper guidance and practice.
Recognizing the significance of job readiness, Met Council provides professional help to low to moderate-income New Yorkers who want to find jobs or advance their careers. These resources are available for clients who come from various backgrounds and economic situations including unemployment, underemployment, or career change. Met Council’s innovative Career Services Center has volunteers who help people build the necessary foundation for job searches, as well as provides the extra advantage to help its clients secure employment. After teaching computer skills, providing resume assistance, and leading a mock interview workshop, these skilled volunteers conduct a Professional Networking Workshop. This training and hands-on approach provides job seekers with skills on how to network and get information on potential employers. By play-acting in a networking mixer, clients have the opportunity to present their professional selves in a non-threatening environment. This interactive technique is particularly useful in teaching clients how to connect with possible future employers. As part of the training, for example, clients learn to create a two-minute pitch and a 30-second pitch― or, “the elevator pitch”― to clearly articulate who they are and what their goals are. Clients are also taught how to connect with their interviewers on a deeper level, and how to follow-up after the interview.
These valuable skills are not innate, which is why this program is so helpful to clients. But each client’s experience at Met Council’s networking workshop would be incomplete without a chance to receive feedback on his or her performance. After learning networking tips and then implementing these tips in a simulated environment, these clients are then offered thoughtful suggestions on how to improve their already-enhanced skills. These feedback sessions pave the way for clients to reach their ultimate potential, as it gives them an opportunity to grow. In the process, many valuable ideas are generated and then shared within a group setting, allowing each client to learn from his or her peers. By addressing each client’s personal needs, the volunteers are able to tailor the most successful networking approach, unique to each client. Met Council recognizes that no two clients have an identical resumes, so they should not be subjected to identical training. Instead, each client receives individualized guidance and one-on-one attention.
If you are interested in volunteering for our networking workshop please e-mail Volunteer@metcouncil.org
Some information was taken from: http://www.fiscalpolicy.org/FPI_StateOfWorkingNewYork2011_Part1_20110831.pdf
Written By Carly Scheinberg, Met Council Intern
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