Help others first

Remember that networking is not about you but it is about the other person. The more you practice this idea you will find that the ROI, return on investment, will pay you back handsomely. Recognizing that you are looking to be re-employed you still want to listen carefully to others first. When you listen to them you never know what you might learn or who you might be able to meet.

Connecting vs. networking

Sometimes I feel some folks have a misunderstanding about networking. Some feel it entails running around a room dispensing their business cards and collecting cards from others then complaining that it was a lousy networking event. Had they actually be "connecting" and building personal relationships they may have felt the outcome was different. In my opinion it is more useful, in life, to get to know others better than to search for the perfect partners.
Some will try to cut through the chafe and only connect with who is the best prospect only to find out later they may not have been. Sometimes trying to be efficient can lead to fewer connections.

Valentines day

Here we are again at another Valentines day. Are you prepared? Are your cards sent out? Have you bought any presents you had planned on getting?
Are you still laying out your appointments for next week? You should, never stop seeing people. Get out of the house and meet someone new. Meeting past friends is always good to and be sure to discuss positive accomplishments.You never know what you may learn or the other person may learn from such conversations.

Having fun

Are you having fun as you travel on this journey? If not my question to you is "Why not?"
Part of your job to yourself is to make this fun and enjoyable. If you boil it down you may find that one reason it isn't fun is because your may get rejected and that isn't fun. How can you change this? Remember that you normally will be rejected far more times than you will be accepted. You don't want to compromise yourself and be offered a position you actually don't want. Remember that working where you are unhappy is still worse off than being unemployed.

Networking

What is this "thing" called networking? It is a task we have done forever. It began back in the sandbox when we introduced our old friend to a new friend. We continued through school introducing friends to friends continuing after college. We did it at church, sports venues, extracurricular activities and so on.
Then when we become unemployed we read about and hear about the need to get out there and network. Many folks cringe at the thought. They will compare it to "cold calling" sometimes.
My suggestion is to treat networking with a fun attitude. It is fun to meet new people and learn about them. Where they are from, what they like to do, where they like traveling to. The art of getting know others.
You will find it can be fun when you be sure to make it fun.

Address Book

Most of us have some sort of address book from a young age. We used to use it to write letters, send cards and send Christmas cards. For this part of your journey and electronic version can certainly be handier, with the ability to sort or look up people. By putting in a few helpful hints where you met, conversed about, date you met, what their hobbies might have been or many other fields it makes it even easier to do a search.
This is where the new Social Media phenomena is working so well such as LinkedIn and Facebook. You don't always have to carry all the address with you if you can reach those social media tools.

Calendar

To me a calendar is a very basic tool to have with you. As much as we think we'll remember everything we have to do, rarely do we fulfill them all. When you are trying to make appointments for interviews, of any kind, you want to be sure not to over book or double book. When you meet someone and have agreed to meet later you should either confirm it then or if you do the "I'll call you later" then you should mark your calendar to make that call. So many folks don't follow up then wonder why they aren't making the headway they want to make.
Once again, your calendar can be a pocket, hand written type or electronic, that is up to you.