A better approach to networking is to set up informational interviews with prospective contacts. In the informational interview, you do not ask the contact for a job. Instead you ask for information that might lead to a job or advancement within your career. An informational interview is a good approach to use when you are just starting out in a particular career or changing career directions. It takes the pressure off the job seeker, as well as the other person.
Most people are more than happy to discuss what they do for a living.
I learned the process of conducting an informational interview through an outplacement service and career counselor. After 21 years in the field of business administration, I found my job downsized due to a corporate merger. Unwilling to relocate, I decided to use the opportunity to pursue a long-term dream of freelance writing. I asked myself. The first lesson I learned from the career counselor is the importance of networking.