Start with who you know

You are already armed with countless valuable networking contacts that you haven’t identified because they are not directly related to your field. Initial networking contacts can be anyone. It doesn’t matter what industry they are in or whether they know anything about the job you want to do. Even if they think they can’t help you, networking is about people who know people, and there is an untapped market of limitless information at your disposal. You just need to set it in motion.

Make a list of people you know will agree talk to you right away. Here are some examples of people in your community who you already know, and who will undoubtedly have a wealth of information to share with you:

Your banker: Whether or not you are on a first name basis with your banker, you must include him in this category. This person likely has unlimited business associates across your community.  Bankers typically know which businesses are thriving, and who’s running them. If you have any kind of relationship with your banker, he or she should be on your list.

Your real estate agent: These people are running their own ongoing networking campaign, and they carry a wealth of knowledge and an unlimited supply of business cards. They typically know the community well and know who the decision makers are in the business community. The director at your child’s daycare:  A community leader in his own right, this person will have an active involvement in community affairs. They attend regular networking events and they typically develop relationships with other employed parents.

The Mayor or other local political figure: They know everyone and politicians seldom turn down a request for a meeting, because it reflects poorly on their campaign score. Others can include your physician or dentist, the director at your gym, your brother-in-law who runs the industrial paving company. You just never know who else sits in her chair. When you contact them, be clear about your expectations. They may even think they can’t really help you. Assure them that you are merely on fact finding mission and that you do not expect them to find you a job. Once you inform them of your goals and your target industries, the wheels will start to turn and they will almost certainly have something to contribute.

There is no such thing as a bad contact. The worst that can happen is you came away from the meeting with no referrals. But even at that, you have an opportunity to practice your meeting skills.