Donna Messer

Statistics Show Networking Has a Significant Impact on Income

by: Donna Messer
Portrait of Donna Messer by: Andrea Nielsen

It’s not the quantity of business cards you collect; it’s the quality of the relationship you build.

In today’s economy, many of us are scurrying around trying to find that next opportunity – whether it’s as a new Canadian finding that first career break, or someone in transition that needs to handle the challenges of change. Whatever the reason, we all need to use our networking skills to find what it is we seek.

Statistics Canada reports that another 61,000 jobs were lost in March, pushing the unemployment rate to 8.0% and increasing the number of Canadians who want to work but cannot find a job to over 1.45 million.

 If you haven’t lost your job, you probably know someone who has. At the very least, you know someone hovering on the edge between employment and uncertainty. Every day I hear from colleagues referring me to people who are in transition. My inbox is overflowing, and I’m hearing from people I haven’t heard from in years. Why? Because when you need help the first place you go is to your data base.

What can you do when you are one of those statistics? It’s simple. Learn the Art of Effective Networking. Then put into practice what you’ve learned

A new report has just been released from Pepperdine School of Business in California. It’s called “Professional Networking and its Impact on Career Advancement.”

Statistics showed that networking effectively has a significant impact on income. The study segmented the “elite-professional demographic” with 58% between the ages of 39 – 60. In this study, earnings were substantially more than the national average. Most were in leadership or executive roles working full time. Respondents reported that their networks were the most impactful tool in identifying, and securing jobs. 46% sited networking as the first and most important step in the job search process.

Research shows that networking is first and foremost in any search – for a successful career, to become an entrepreneur or to start a small business. When you network you get work!

Six variables identified as crucial in the study were:

• Willingness to recommend
• Depth of personal relationship
• Frequency of communication
• Frequency of contact
• Position or level of influence of those in your network
• Professional opportunities generated by your network

Five skills identified that must be taught:

• Learn to maintain ongoing contact.
• Proactively build relationships with mentors and advisors.
• Identify, research and add new connections your network.
• Gather meaningful introductions to key contacts
• Evolve relationships from contacts to close connections.

If the study is reflective of our present economy, everyone must not only use networking effectively, they need to consider taking lessons to maximize those skills!

Donna Messer is an author, speaker and coach. For a copy of the Pepperdine Report or a copy of her EBook on Effective Networking send her an email at dmesser@connectuscanada.com Need a little coaching? Call Donna at 905-337-9578! 

Donna Messer is an author, speaker and trainer for ConnectUs Communications Canada, her networking training has been added to the curriculum of colleges, universities, boardrooms and government offices around the world. Statistics show effective networking has a significant impact on income; that it’s not the quantity of business cards collected, rather the quality of the relationship built. Messer is a journalist and the lifestyle editor for several Canadian publications. Her expertise in networking is recognized worldwide. Her book “Effective Networking Strategies” is a best seller.

Donna Messer can be reached through the website – www.connectuscanada.com 

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Postscript:

When I first met Donna I had to admire how successful she was at business networking. For someone like me, who is actually a bit shy and has to work at getting out there, I was amazed at how Donna was able to just go up to anyone and strike up a conversation.

Right there and then, I thought, put yourself out there Trina, and get some coaching!

Everyone needs good communication skills of course. You would think that business training and education programs would stress the values of networking as much as they stress time management, after all people skills and team building, are at the very foremost of skills required when starting your own business,  right after knowing how to perform your service or make your product. 

Now that social networking online is so ‘in’, is there still a place for meeting people face to face. Definitely, there is no substitute for developing relationships in person. However, in today’s ‘Twittering’ world filled with places to meet and greet and get facetime online such as Facebook, Linkedin, and even our own Astoria Magazine Network of readers, you still need to know the ins and outs of networking both online and offline.