Networking contacts list has many uses

In the past, we have talked about the "how, when and where" of networking. But we have never talked about why you want to network.

We all know you network to build your contact list so that if you ever find yourself unemployed, you can tap your resources to get a job. However, you can do many more things with your contact list.

Recently my friend Heather Smith of Mass Mutual sent out an e-mail looking to hire someone as a recruitment specialist because she didn't want to run an ad in the paper. When a friend who received the e-mail was out shopping for furniture, her salesperson, Joanne, impressed her so much that she offered to share the e-mail from Heather. Joanne was hired a few days later. You, too, can network to find employees.

You can also use your contact list when you are in need of a service. Sure, you could Google the service that you need and get plenty of names. But you would not know these people. How would you know they were reputable? A better way would be to reach out to your contacts to ask who they use. More than likely, they will have used these services before and be able to give you feedback based on personal experience.

If you are new in town, not knowing anyone can be a bit scary. You can network to meet people. At networking events, most people don't know each other. And they are there to meet new people as well. Many groups also have tours of restaurants, shops or neighborhoods. Not only would you get an education about your new town, but you also might make some friends.

You might be surprised by the ways you can make your network work for you.

Email Luyk, CEO of Midnight Janitorial, www.midnightjanitorial.com. This column is written by members of the Rochester Women's Network (www.rwn.org).