Networking and how to do it.

A significant number of roles can be gained just through networking

It's true, networking is the best way of connecting with the right people to help you; tapping the unadvertised job market; discovering new ideas and avenues for success and generally managing your career.

Join a Networking Group

There are a number of professional networking groups covering a wide range of interests and expertise. They can come in useful during your job search or route to self employment and we feature here some of those that we and our clients have heard reports of or used in the past.

Check the section under Resources - Looking for Vacancies for details of more specific networking groups for particular career fields.

British Chambers of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce provide useful networking forums - click to find your nearest Chamber and details of networking opportunities and events near you.

London Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce has a number of initiatives in the form of:

Special Interest Groups
Exclusive networking events for special interest group members and their guests, including seminars and tours, receptions, lunches and dinners. Our special interest groups activities cover a variety of interests and industry sectors including:

• Asian business association
• defense and security
• London medicine
• property and construction
• small business club
• women in business

Business Opportunities
Various help available for starting a business:

• regional supply network - professional advisers match UK suppliers to the sourcing requirements of purchasers
• business cooperation centre - will find you a partner
• tenders and contracts - notifies you of relevant tenders
• networking events - a program of networking events each year providing opportunities to meet new business contacts
• international trade missions and trade fairs overseas market visits as part of a British group to develop your international business.
• Membership directory.

Events

Events program includes some 150 functions every year, ranging from open evenings to sporting events, business breakfasts to prestige lunches and dinners, conferences and seminars.

Click here for latest events diary.

Institute of Directors

The IOD is an excellent place for those looking at freelance consulting or interim management as a career option as the relatively low cost membership provides a number of useful features including use of the excellent facilities at Pall Mall. The IOD has 50,000 members across its UK network and runs a comprehensive diary of events including training courses, conferences and networking opportunities in the form of both social and professional activities.

First Tuesday/Yazam

Incredibly popular gathering of aspiring entrepreneurs and investors in the Internet/new media/new economy sector. Meet the first Tuesday of every month at a various UK venues, hence the name 'First Tuesday'. Visit their web site to join the mailing list and find out more about meetings and spin-off events. The web site also features a job bank although it has been hijacked by recruitment consultants recently and quantity seems to have overtaken quality. A useful resource for those looking to work in the new media industry or explore startup opportunities.

Chartered Management Institute

The Chartered Management Institute (formerly Institute of Management) is the UK’s largest professional body for managers with around 89,000 individual members and 560 corporate partners, representing approximately 3m employees. Members come from all sectors, both public and private, and all levels of responsibility. Membership offers a range of services including networking events and Special Interest Groups such as Women in Management

Other resources you may find useful...Books:  

30 Mins to Improve Your Networking Skills

Hilton & Scudamore

Mid-Life Career Change

Susan Cartwright & Teresa Holmes

What Colour is Your Parachute

Richard Nelson-Bolles