Networking

Networking should be considered an essential component of professional career management and, therefore, is something that has to be worked on on a permanent basis.  We should not wait until we need to network - mostly when we are looking for work - in order to think about it.

Current publications assure us that 75% of jobs generated by companies are not published in the usual media. This "hidden job market" is accessed via personal contacts, which continue to be one of the most efficient means or finding and/or changing jobs.

Personal and professional relations that are established over a lifetime allow us to connect with different sectors and companies through someone we know. It has been shown, for example, that the average number of nodes that link two people in Spain is around three, since networking is characterized by its multiplier effect. Similarly, the global percentage of job placings achieved via this method, especially in middle or top managerial positions, is 60-80%. This means that in many cases when the managers are trying to cover certain types of positions they begin with people they know.

In order to access this market that generates a high percentage of employment prospects, we need to use networking. However, developing our network is a complex matter, which should be organized in a structured manner.

In this section you will find advice on how to use networking, how to approach informal interviews with your contacts as well as the questions you can ask in these interviews, etc.