Networking is using contacts, friends, social groups, and people in industries for your own business purposes.

Cold canvassing is inquiring about jobs without any prior advertisement.

Basic Networking

In any industry, information is a valuable commodity. In terms of jobs, 'who's hiring' and 'who will be hiring, and when' are the most important.

Networks of information are those in the industry, those in the workplace, unions, professional associations, and in some cases the employers themselves.

'Who's hiring' is obvious. 'Who will be hiring, and when,' is much more useful, because employers plan their hiring.

If you get a lead on a job vacancy, you can get in first, and save yourself time and effort. You can ring the employer, get confirmation, find out the necessary information. If you know someone in the workplace, you can find out who to ask about the job. It may also be that you can get a temp or casual job, just on the basis of the inquiry.

It also makes the job application a lot simpler, and far more efficient, than roaming the job ads day after day, looking for matches.

In some cases, you have a relationship with the job through your network. That also helps, because employers are more likely to listen to their own staff than referees and people they don't know.

Go for a bad job, and you could miss a good one.

Networks do have their uses, and reliable sources of information are never a waste of time.

You'd be well advised to deal with those who are currently in your industry, know the business situation, and can give guidance, as well as information.

Knowing where to look for work is one thing, knowing how to get it is another.

You really do need both.

Rumors are no use in networking. They add non-information, and can also be a great way of misinterpreting real information.

You need to check your facts, and you can waste a lot of time digging through what may well be no more than gossip.

Be careful about your information sources, and very picky about who you're prepared to use in your network.

Cold Canvassing

Cold canvassing is a bit like entry level applications. It means contacting employers and expressing an interest in working for them.

It requires a bit of patience, but there are some very positive advantages.

As with entry level applications, the contact is an 'expression of interest'. The method requires direct contact with the employer, usually the HR person, and is no guarantee of getting a job.

However- You get a lot of first hand information. With the flick of a switch, the HR person can send you information, show you how they operate, what's required in the positions you want, and give you a good look at the workplace, the job situation, and the employer.

They can also save you a lot of time, even with negative results. You can find out that they're not expecting to hire, but are looking at cutbacks because of economic conditions or industry slumps.

(Networking applies here. You may well be the first person to find out about these things, so you can be the source of information to your network.)

Major employers get these contacts all the time. So if there's a company you'd really like to work for, they're not going to be taken by surprise if you make an inquiry. Just ring them and ask.

The really good part of cold canvassing is that you can express your interest in a job before it comes up for advertisement. A lot of companies have internships, apprenticeships, and trainee schemes, which are perfect for filling many positions. The employer has them budgeted, and in some cases gets government subsidies for filling those positions.

An inquiry can also lead to offers of casual or temporary work. Employers are often cautious, but sometimes prepared to check out people who are interested. Consider it a test.

It also shows initiative, interest in the job, and career goals. By definition, you've indicated all three, just by asking.

They still need a CV, and the rest of the information, and make sure you still address those points with your documents.

Give it a shot. If there's a job you've always wanted, ring up, find out about it.

Networking is using contacts, friends, social groups, and people in industries for your own business purposes.

Cold canvassing is inquiring about jobs without any prior advertisement.

Basic Networking

In any industry, information is a valuable commodity. In terms of jobs, 'who's hiring' and 'who will be hiring, and when' are the most important.

Networks of information are those in the industry, those in the workplace, unions, professional associations, and in some cases the employers themselves.

'Who's hiring' is obvious. 'Who will be hiring, and when,' is much more useful, because employers plan their hiring.

If you get a lead on a job vacancy, you can get in first, and save yourself time and effort. You can ring the employer, get confirmation, find out the necessary information. If you know someone in the workplace, you can find out who to ask about the job. It may also be that you can get a temp or casual job, just on the basis of the inquiry.

It also makes the job application a lot simpler, and far more efficient, than roaming the job ads day after day, looking for matches.

In some cases, you have a relationship with the job through your network. That also helps, because employers are more likely to listen to their own staff than referees and people they don't know.

Go for a bad job, and you could miss a good one.

Networks do have their uses, and reliable sources of information are never a waste of time.

You'd be well advised to deal with those who are currently in your industry, know the business situation, and can give guidance, as well as information.

Knowing where to look for work is one thing, knowing how to get it is another.

You really do need both.

Rumors are no use in networking. They add non-information, and can also be a great way of misinterpreting real information.

You need to check your facts, and you can waste a lot of time digging through what may well be no more than gossip.

Be careful about your information sources, and very picky about who you're prepared to use in your network.

Cold Canvassing

Cold canvassing is a bit like entry level applications. It means contacting employers and expressing an interest in working for them.

It requires a bit of patience, but there are some very positive advantages.

As with entry level applications, the contact is an 'expression of interest'. The method requires direct contact with the employer, usually the HR person, and is no guarantee of getting a job.

However- You get a lot of first hand information. With the flick of a switch, the HR person can send you information, show you how they operate, what's required in the positions you want, and give you a good look at the workplace, the job situation, and the employer.

They can also save you a lot of time, even with negative results. You can find out that they're not expecting to hire, but are looking at cutbacks because of economic conditions or industry slumps.

(Networking applies here. You may well be the first person to find out about these things, so you can be the source of information to your network.)

Major employers get these contacts all the time. So if there's a company you'd really like to work for, they're not going to be taken by surprise if you make an inquiry. Just ring them and ask.

The really good part of cold canvassing is that you can express your interest in a job before it comes up for advertisement. A lot of companies have internships, apprenticeships, and trainee schemes, which are perfect for filling many positions. The employer has them budgeted, and in some cases gets government subsidies for filling those positions.

An inquiry can also lead to offers of casual or temporary work. Employers are often cautious, but sometimes prepared to check out people who are interested. Consider it a test.

It also shows initiative, interest in the job, and career goals. By definition, you've indicated all three, just by asking.

They still need a CV, and the rest of the information, and make sure you still address those points with your documents.

Give it a shot. If there's a job you've always wanted, ring up, find out about it.