Networking is a powerful tool that can help you land the job you want. But for many people just thinking about networking can cause stress and discomfort, and when cancer treatment and/or recovery are added into the mix it can feel even more challenging.

However, networking is a skill, and like all skills it is something you can get better at over time. The important thing is to just get started — whether by updating your LinkedIn profile or telling your closest friends and family you are looking to meet new people and find your next job. Because once you start building good habits and gaining momentum, you're likely to notice that networking feels easier and less intimidating - and that doors will start to open.

What is Networking and Why is it Important?

Having a solid understanding of what networking is can help approach the process thoughtfully and with confidence. Overall, networking is an ongoing, interactive process of creating and nurturing relationships and, according to some experts, approximately 85% of all jobs are found this way. The reason for this is about 80% of available jobs are in "the hidden job market" - meaning that they are not being widely advertised on job boards so are opportunities more likely to be found by word of mouth. Job seekers are also often surprised to learn the network they already have is bigger than they might think: most people you meet have at least 250 contacts.

Key benefits of networking include:

• Developing valuable contacts
• Obtaining job leads
• Sharing information
• Being a role model
• Enhancing your image
• Promoting your achievements and skills
• Gaining a deeper knowledge of something
• Validating or revising your goals

Developing a Networking Plan

Ideally, networking should be an embedded, ongoing part of your day-to-day life, not something that is strictly event-driven - and having a networking plan can help you make sure that happens. Here are some guidelines:

• Commit to the idea that you are going to take networking seriously.
• Begin or end each day by calling or emailing a business or personal acquaintance you haven’t communicated with in three months or longer.
• Set reachable goals for the number of people you want to meet and communicate with every week.
• Keep organized with CAC’s Networking Tracker.
• And remember, it’s not about making large numbers of contacts, it’s about making meaningful connections.

Offer Help in Return

The key to effecting networking is focusing on the other person, continuing to engage them in the process and making sure the relationship is reciprocal. Here are some suggestions for how to do that:

• Actively consider what you can do to help the other person and, if you're not sure, ask. Remembering that you are someone who can also provide assistance can make it easier to accept help.
• Brainstorm ways you might provide help to different people and write down your thoughts to refer back to when reaching out to your network.
• Keep a Post-it near your phone or computer that reminds you to ask how you can help others during networking calls or virtual meetings.
• Always end any networking conversation or meeting with an action or next step. (i.e., "I'll introduce you to my friend who also works in marketing tomorrow."; or "I'll email you next month to check in on your project is going."

Networking After Losing Touch

A very common networking challenge people face isis reaching out to someone in their network they haven’t spoken with in a long time because they feel uncomfortable breaking the silence now that they "need something." But the fact is, the only guaranteed "no" is to a question that doesn't get asked - and people are often pleasantly surprised how willing others are to help. Here are some best practices that can help reconnecting go more smoothly :

• Acknowledge the lapse in time and follow up with a pleasntry. For example, "It's been a while since we last spoke but I still have such great memories of talking football with you on Monday mornings."
• Explain why you are reaching out now.
• Offer to do something for them in return.

Read more about tips & techniques for effective networking and environments that lend themselves to professional networking.

Updated 2024

Adapted from a 2017 National Conference Presentation by Julie Jansen