E-Mail This Article to a Friend Network nation (continued)

The goal is to eventually build a network that will take you places — like into offices for job interviews. But before that, you need to make the personal and professional impressions that will lead to the next step. These ideas should all be a part of your plan:

• Ask for an informational meeting. This is a low-pressure request that demonstrates interest without requiring much of the other person. You can use this meeting as a mini-mentoring session — ask about industry trends, and get a feel for the job’s day-to-day characteristics.

"You can really get a sense of what goes on in that person’s life, and ‘Would this be a good fit for me?’ " says Aileen Yates, who works in the Department of Cooperative Education at Northeastern University, helping college students find co-op positions.

• Ask for other names. If the contact you call doesn’t have time for an informational interview, you can at least ask if she can suggest a few other people to try. Remember that every call won’t be fruitful.

"You might talk to this person and it’ll go left, you might talk to that person and it’ll go right," Darling says. "You might talk to that person and get three great contacts; you might talk to five people and get zero."

• Do your homework. If you make a call or go for a meeting, try to learn as much as you can beforehand about the company and the industry. The ability to speak confidently will catch people’s attention and make them more eager to meet with you again.

"There is nothing more appealing than someone who is confident, on top of their game, and has a clear message and comes across as very focused and crisp," Allen says. "Do your homework and make sure you know exactly what it is you want to deliver and what it is you want to ask for."

• Learn to listen. If you listen attentively, you’ll hear what gaps in your prospective field need to be filled, says Keith Luscher. "The best way to start beefing up your experience and start beefing up relationships is to learn how to listen."

Say you’ve made that initial contact, even had that first informational meeting. Now comes the hard part. Maintaining contacts is often more important than making them in the first place. This is a classic case of quality towering over quantity.

"For a while, there was this huge push for ‘I’ve got 10,000 people in my Rolodex,’ " Darling says. "I mean, who cares? I measure it by who’s going to return my phone calls."

In other words, one interaction does not an impression or a relationship make. The experts offer a combination of common-sense and creative ways to follow up and make sure people remember who you are.

• Create a personal catch-up schedule. Plan to make "just saying hi" calls every two months, for example. And don’t become too reliant on "electronic networking," Darling warns — like sending e-mails, or connecting through online services like Friendster.com or Linkedin.com. "At some point they have to be face-to-face," she says. "So at some point they need to polish that skill."

• Keep people posted. Let your contacts know about job changes, promotions, marriages, or moves. This lets people feel like they’re a part of your life all the time — not just when it’s convenient for you.

• Show them that you listened. Here’s a good trick that more than one expert mentioned: let’s say you spoke to the creative director at an advertising firm and she mentioned her love for hiking. If you see one, clip and send her an article about the best trails in her area. Or, if you met an investment banker who’s interested in government regulations, send him an e-mail about a relevant professional seminar. It’s a perfect way to make the networking a mutually beneficial experience, Allen says.

• Invest in "third-party" networking. If your friend’s interests or needs correspond, connect him or her with someone you met at the gym, or give your colleague the name and phone number of your college roommate.

It may not offer you immediate benefits, Darling says, but this professional matchmaking can put you in the good graces of everyone involved — and they’ll remember it next time you need a favor.

"The more people you keep in your court, who know what you’re doing and can be an advocate for you, that’s what this is all about," Yates agrees.

Networking is not precise," Darling says. Nevertheless, every expert advises keeping an orderly database of contacts — in a notebook, on the computer, whatever works for you. For all contacts, make notes of your meetings, phone calls, e-mails, the best time to reach them, and any information they pass along.

But don’t get too systematic. Yates thinks of networking "almost like a game — if you look at it that way, it can really be fun. And the more people you speak to, the more opportunity you have to really propel your career."

Deirdre Fulton can be reached at dfulton[a]phx.com.