I have been working with a number of new clients this month who come from a range of different business backgrounds. It’s always refreshing to meet new people and have new business challenges.
In my line of work no two clients are the same. They will bring with them different experience, expertise and skills and will all want different levels of support. Every new client is a valuable opportunity to network and exchange information. Whilst I am there to support my clients, whether it’s helping them to write a professional C.V, give them valuable career coaching, or improve their interview skills, I can also gain a great deal of information that I can used to benefit other clients.
Sometimes, it’s about putting clients together who may have mutual business needs. Other times it might be meeting a client who has completed a particular qualification or course who can share firsthand how successful it has or hasn’t been.
I have been able to share a wealth of new knowledge and contacts with my existing and new clients through networking. For example; I have a client who is setting up her own business selling new and nearly new designer clothes. I have been helping her realise the business potential of her own networks to increase her business without having to pay a penny in advertising. No doubt she will soon be successfully reaping the benefits from her new customers.
I also have a new client who is a Web Designer who has very kindly agreed to exchange his web design skills for my career coaching sessions in order to help me create a new website. It’s a great example of being creative in business through your own networks.
Networking is absolutely fundamental to everything we do. Whilst we are living in an ‘on-line’ world where we are just 3 clicks away from whatever we need to know – networking is the key to success in employment, business and growth.
Networking is a free resource and for that reason the hidden job market is getting stronger and stronger. People get to hear about job opportunities through friends, friends of friends, ex-colleagues, family connections, chance meetings and of course Social Networking such as Linked-In, Facebook and Twitter. I am available on all 3 since I recently joined the wonderful world of ‘Twitter’ – you can find me: @munrocareers
Networking now equates to up to 80% of the job market! So anyone looking for employment opportunities on-line, through a local recruitment agency or in their local ‘Classified Ads’ are putting 100% of their efforts in to as little as 20% of the job market.
Networking is not an exact science and you don’t need to go on a course to learn how to do it. It’s just about being aware of the opportunities that surround you.
So what are you waiting for? Go on…… get out there and start networking!
