Networking is a strategy to gain more opportunities and more possibilities. It is a way of connecting with different people, people you know and new people you have never met before. Networking isn’t just the exchanging of information with others and it's certainly not about begging for favours. Networking is about establishing and nurturing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with the people you meet. Whether you are waiting to order your morning coffee, participating in a sports league or attending a work conference. But there is something you have to know. You are networking every day and everywhere you go, everyone you meet can help you move your job search forward. Searching in the hidden job market may take more planning and nerve than searching online, but it is much more effective.
Here are some tips from Aspirare to help you build your network:

Start conversations with your connections
Everyone thinks that they don’t know anyone who can help them during a job search, but that is untrue. You know more people than you think, and there is a very good chance that some of those people know someone else who can give you career advice or point you to a job opening. You can start by going through your social media accounts and start gathering names, connecting to new members and then start conversations with them.

Ask for Advice
Try to not ask your connection for a job. You want your contacts to become allies, don’t make them feel ambushed so ask for information or details instead. If they are able to hire you or refer you to someone who can, they will. If not, you haven’t put them in the uncomfortable position of turning you down or telling you that they can’t help.