Network Your Way to a New Job

Danielle Wright has been looking for a job for six months now.

In that time, the former insurance marketing executive says she's learned at least one very important lesson.

Danielle Wright said, “I had my friends, I had my family, but I never really worked very hard to keep up a professional network.”

Now Danielle is attending a seminar at Loyola University... learning how to re-build a job network to include old classmates, coworkers, even people she's met at conventions.

According to Toby Nathan, presenter and co-founder of Recruit A Star staffing, it can make the difference in getting hired.

“If someone knows you through your LinkedIn network or a professional network and they can endorse you,” Nathan said, “It puts you heads and tails above the other candidates.”

To use LinkedIn, try searching for a very specific company.

You may not know that if you pay $30 a month, you can even email people with whom you don't have a common contact.

Also consider using Twitter. It contains a tool called Twellow, which allows you to search people's bios and any URLs on their bios.

Of course, Toby likes the old fashion approach.

“I would suggest the people you do know if you can reach out to them by phone, that’s always the best practice, “ Nathan said, adding that using a personal touch can help.

Unless its been more than a few years since you've last talked -- then Toby suggests contacting them online.

“You could say something like, ‘I recently made a job transition and I saw that you are still at X Company. Would love to re-connect with you see how you are doing,’ “ Nathan explained.

While it may seem time consuming, experts say it is time well spent.

Job or no job, experts recommend spending five to seven hours a month networking.

Learn how to do it well.