Tips for networking to get a new job or promotion

Networking holds the key to job-search success. Whether you’re applying for a promotion internally or seeking a job elsewhere, the way you approach contacts will make a huge difference to your success.

There is an art to reaching out to the right person with the right message and the right pitch. My new book, The Job Seeker’s Script, outlines the steps needed to approach the right people in the right way and with the right messages.

This article, drawn from the book, provides an overview of the four ways to make successful networking happen.

1. FORGET YOUR FEAR

The starting point of successful networking is courage: having the confidence to ask for help. Of course, it can feel scary. But you’re not likely to get the job you want if you don’t get help from well-placed people.