The Most Effective Networking Strategies for Job Seekers in Ireland

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The Most Effective Networking Strategies for Job Seekers in Ireland

Networking is a crucial aspect of the job search process in Ireland, as it can help you uncover hidden job opportunities and gain insights into the job market. Having the right strategies can help you create meaningful relationships with industry professionals or even secure your dream job. We will give you an insight into the most effective networking strategies for job seekers in Ireland that will help you to stand out from the competition.

Attend Networking Events

Attending networking events can be a highly effective strategy for job seekers in Ireland. These events provide opportunities to meet professionals, potential employers, and industry peers in a face-to-face setting.

Attending industry-specific events, job fairs, conferences, and seminars provides excellent opportunities to connect with professionals in your field and potential employers.
This will give you an opportunity to join relevant professional associations and organisations related to your industry. These groups often host different events and offer resources to help you stay updated on industry trends.

Join Professional Associations

Identify professional associations relevant to your field. Research and choose the ones that align with your career goals. Many professional associations have online communities on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook or forums where members can connect and share insights.

Engage in these digital spaces to expand your network. Evaluate the benefits of membership, such as access to networking events, industry publications, job boards, and training opportunities. Ensure that the association provides value for your career.
You can also volunteer for association activities or events. This not only helps you give back to the community but also showcases your commitment to your profession.

Around 40% of people network more online than in person.

Our Top Tip

Keep up-to-date with the association’s publications, newsletters, and research. This knowledge can make you a more informed and valuable member.

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Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are a valuable strategy that can provide you with insights into your target companies or industries, help you learn about company culture, and even uncover potential job openings. Reach out to professionals working in your target companies or industries and request informational interviews.

Craft a well-written email or LinkedIn message introducing yourself. Explain your purpose for reaching out, which is to learn more about their experiences and the industry.
Be clear that you’re seeking information and advice, not a job. You want to build a genuine connection and gather insights.

By embracing the power of networking, job seekers can be sure to increase their chances for success and bolster their chance of landing the perfect career. Whether attending events, fostering online relationships or perfecting emails, focusing on networking can be a great asset for any job seeker. Start now by making important connections that will help you build your career effectively within Ireland.

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5 Benefits of Networking at Work

5 Benefits of Networking at Work

Networking at work is a vital pathway to career growth and there are many benefits to it. Sometimes networking can be confused with selling, but it actually means creating long-term relationships that are mutually beneficial. This in turn, leads to building a good reputation over time.

Networking is not about trying to meet as many people as possible, but rather it is trying to meet the right type of people that will be able to endorse your specific skillset, show you opportunities and point you in the direction of other well-connected people.
It is an essential process that should be implemented throughout all stages of your professional journey. Here we take a look at 5 benefits of networking at work.

Did you know? Networking Benefits
  • 85% of job positions have been filled through networking.
  • Almost 100% believe that face-to-face meetings build stronger long-term relationships.
  • 70% of jobs are never published publicly. 

Here are 5 of the biggest advantages of networking:

1. Raise Your Profile

One of the first benefits of networking that is extremely important in career building is being able to raise your profile, you can do this by being visible and getting noticed. The way you can do this is by attending as many social and professional events as possible which will help get your face known.

When you are attending these events, you must provide value for other attendees (it’s not all about you), long lasting relationships are built on trust and providing value to each other. You can create value by listening carefully, following up on conversations, remembering names, and offering your knowledge and expertise.

2. Advance Your Career

Having the ability to go out and network with people within your industry can hugely benefit your chances of climbing the ladder in your industry.

You can advance your career and build your reputation by being knowledgeable, reliable, and supportive by providing useful information to people who need it.

3. Strengthen Business Connections

“Sharing is caring”, for lack of a better term, is what networking is all about. You must be willing to share the information you have and not just take information from other people. It is about forming trust and helping each other reach your individual goals. Staying in regular dialogue with your contacts and finding ways to assist them will help strengthen your relationship. This will plant the seed for a long-lasting relationship and for when you need assistance to achieve your goals.

Making connections in business, benefits of networking.

4. Access to Job Opportunities

Having the ability to expand your contacts can lead to many new opportunities for business, career advancement or for personal growth. When you are actively networking it keeps you at the forefront of people’s minds when new job openings become available, and it will increase your chances of being introduced to relevant people or potentially even a referral.

As your career advances a lot of jobs do not get advertised, so being recognised in the right network of people can open the door to more career opportunities that you may not have otherwise.

5. Career Advice and Support

Receiving career advice from experienced people within your industry is another important benefit of networking. When you are discussing your common challenges and opportunities this can lead to important suggestions and guidance. When you can offer good advice and support to your contacts this will set a strong foundation when you need support in return.

So why not get networking and soon you’ll be climbing up that career ladder in no time!

View all our current vacancies on Recruit Island that can help you get your foot in the door and start networking.

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Article written by:

Cian McGoey is part of the Digital Marketing team within Servisource Workforce Solutions.