• To gather information and advice about organizations or schools in which you have an interest
• To ask for and receive help from members of your network about your approach to your job search and your application materials
• To obtain referrals to other people who can give you additional helpful information

Sources of Contacts for Your Network

• Faculty and campus contacts
• Current and former employers
• Other students
• Friends and family members
• Current and former co-workers
• Professional contacts

Steps in Building and Maintaining Your Network

• Determine your career or educational objective.
• Prepare and circulate your job-search materials among your network contacts.
• Communicate with people who can help you achieve your objective.
• Keep people in your network informed about your job-search status.

Keep good records and update them frequently!

For more ideas about networking techniques in the job-search process, consult What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles, Ten Speed Press.