T he cardinal rule of networking is not to ask a contact for a job. When phoning contacts, it is important to make your intentions clear. Putting people on the spot by asking them for work will usually lead to an uncomfortable, brief and fruitless interaction.
People are usually happy to provide information, advice and insight.
If they have a job opening or know of one and you make a favorable impression, they will volunteer the information. Remember the point of networking is to gain insider knowledge about industries and to meet enough people within your desired industry to that the job leads begin to uncover themselves. W ithin 48 hours of meeting, send your contact a thank you note. Follow up on the leads or suggestions made and keep your contact posted on your progress. Developing personal contacts or networking for information interviews is a process of speaking with a variety of people who have diverse information and knowledge.