Networking is the process of building relationships that can potentially create business opportunities. Networking is best done face-to-face, but it can take place online as well. There are numerous social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, where you can connect with colleagues and professional acquaintances. Professional organizations also ­offer opportunities to connect through social networks. Other organizations hold regularly scheduled face-to-face social networking opportunities to generate job leads.

The benefit of networking in person is that it can happen anywhere. You can meet someone while you’re grabbing a cup of coffee, or you can attend a formal networking event, a conference, or a job fair. No matter where it happens, you need to know what to say and how to say it to make a good first impression. The first thing you need to do is create an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a brief statement that clearly summarizes your skills and what you can offer. It’s called an elevator pitch because it should be a crisp, concise statement you could make on a short elevator ride. You should focus on three or four key points and sound informal. Try practicing your pitch in front of a mirror or on your voicemail. Don’t mistake a networking event for a party. Remember, networking is about making business contacts, not a new best friend.

When you attend networking events, be prepared. First of all, dress to impress. If you’re going to a job fair, you may encounter people who may want to hire you, so dress the part. If others are dressed casually, you’ll stand out as someone serious about your future. Don’t forget to take along your business cards and copies of your résumé. Before attending an event, try to find out what companies or types of companies will be there. Research the companies that interest you so you’ll have more to say than “What does your company do?” Representatives will likely be impressed by your initiative and enthusiasm for a particular job. Once you meet someone, don’t ask for a job right away. Instead, if it seems appropriate, ask to meet him or her again to discuss possible opportunities.

Building a network takes commitment. You can’t meet new contacts sitting around waiting for someone to call you. Get connected on some of the reputable online social networking sites. Attend a free social networking seminar. Check your local newspaper for conferences or jobs fairs. Enroll in classes to further your skills or meet other people with the same interests. Look for professional networking groups for people with your area of expertise. Be open to networking opportunities outside professional settings. You could meet a person who works in your desired field at the gym, at the grocery store, or in line at Starbucks. This is why it is important to always be prepared to present your pitch at a moment’s notice. Finally, be patient. You can’t expect to create a network overnight. It takes time, but know that after all your work, you’ll have a solid group of people who can give you valuable support, advice, and perhaps the opportunity to get ahead.

If you’re sure of the field you want to work in, create a list of potential employers. Find each company’s website and read about each company’s history and its mission and vision statements. Consider setting up a RSS (real simple syndication) feed following those firms. This can keep you on top of new events and opportunities, making it easier to tailor a cover letter, for example.

You want to know as much as you can about a company and the industry so that you can make an informed decision about where you want to work. Sites like Glassdoor allow you to prepare for an interview or evaluation of a company with information on salaries, other employees’ experiences and lists of job openings.

You can also look online for job openings and contact information. Looking at online job postings, such as those on Monster.com, is also a popular way to look for a job. You can search these sites and then e-mail your cover letter and résumé at any time—day or night. You can also post your résumé on sites such as Monster.com so companies can contact you if they think you’re the right fit for a job. Many people view online job sites, so openings fill fast. Check the sites often for new postings and make sure your résumé really stands out.

As with online postings, classified ads can be a starting point for your job search. Generally, the Sunday paper has the most classified job ads, but that shouldn’t stop you from looking in the paper every day. Once you find a position that sounds good, research the company. Check to see whether the position is still open and send your cover letter and résumé. Newspapers don’t have the same number of postings as does the Internet, but you can look at a newspaper anywhere.

The job of a recruiter is to find qualified employees to work for a company. They can work full-time for a large corporation, or they can be contracted for part-time help at multiple companies. Recruiters may get in touch with you to learn more about your capabilities or determine whether you’re a good fit for a particular company. If a recruiter contacts you, be sure to ask why he or she is interested and to which companies your résumé is being sent. If the recruiter has multiple positions to fill, be clear about the types of companies and jobs that work best for you. If you don’t like a strict nine-to-five schedule or a corporate atmosphere, let the recruiter know. Once you’re both on the same page, you can figure out whether the job available is right for you.

You can contact a recruiter yourself if you’re seeking help with your job search. His or her large pool of contacts can be useful; however, be aware that you may be one of many job seekers the recruiter is assisting. It is best to continue your job search on your own as well as with the help of a recruiter.

Cold calling is a method of job hunting in which you make unexpected and uninvited phone calls to potential employers to express your interest, inquire about openings, and request interviews. It’s a practice that is somewhat controversial because an uninvited contact may seem off-putting to some employers but resourceful to others. If you decide to make cold calls, there are some things you should do before you start dialing. First, make a list of companies that interest you. Then make preliminary calls to obtain the name, title, and phone number of the person in charge of the department you’re interested in working for. You may also be able to find this information on a company website. Send your cover letter and résumé directly to the person you want to impress before you make a call. Don’t forget to tailor your cover letter to the specific company and position. Finally, call the people you sent your résumé to and request an interview.

Cold calling is hard and can end up producing mixed results. An employer may view your call as bothersome or pushy, and an opportunity that could have been an option if you would have waited for the employer to contact you could then be lost. On the other hand, an employer may see your phone call as ambitious. He or she may view you as a self-starter who is motivated to reach your goals. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to tell which way the process will go. It is up to you decide whether cold calling is right for you and the situation.

Your college’s career center can help you determine your skills and strengths, focus on your goals, explore potential career paths, and find current job openings. Most centers have manuals, informational books, and career-planning guides available. In addition, you can meet with a counselor to talk about your career goals and interests. Your counselor may administer an assessment test that can help you gain a deeper understanding about the kinds of jobs that would be a good fit for you. These tests don’t tell you what you should do, but they can give you an idea about what kinds of preferences you have and provide career suggestions based on those preferences.

Also, check your career center’s website for links to other informational sites that can help you. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Occupational Outlook Handbook on its website, a publication that holds a wealth of information about various career fields. This is a great place to start researching a career field. There should also be listings for local job fairs and other career-related events on your college’s career center’s website. Career centers can also help you find internships that allow you to explore a career field and begin to build networking contacts. Many career centers can provide you with help writing résumés and cover letters and offer seminars on proper etiquette and how to dress for success.

The goal of an informational interview is to gain firsthand knowledge about a company or job from someone who currently works in the field. This gives you a chance to hear about the reality of what you think is your dream job. If you don’t know anyone personally to interview, you can check your local career center or your school’s alumni office for contacts. You can also contact a business directly and ask the human resources office to direct you to the best person to interview. Be sure that you’re interviewing the right person, though. If you’re just getting started, you shouldn’t be interviewing the president; you should be speaking with a junior-level employee. The idea is to gain insight into what your job, not the boss’s job, would be like in that field.

When you meet for the informational interview, you should have a list of questions to ask. The following examples are general questions you would have about any job. You may want to include one or two in your interview but try to formulate questions directly related to a specific field.