Most people who want to change or advance their career know that networking is a good thing to do. But when it comes down to actually doing it, many people feel unclear about what exactly what to do. Here are 10 suggestions to give your career a jump start.

1. First, create an infomercial that tells people enough about what you want to do that it makes it easy for them to help you. If one networker says, "I'm looking for something in the training field," and one networker says, "I'm a technical trainer looking for opportunities to teach end-users how to use business applications software in a Windows environment," who do you think will make the better impression?

2. Make a list of everyone you know. Then call or write to each of them with a brief statement about the type of work you are seeking. Send an updated resume since most of your friends and acquaintances have little knowledge of what you have actually done. Ask each of them if they know of any persons who might know of job opportunities in your field. If they give you a name, ask if you can reference their name when you contact the person they've recommended.

3. If you graduated from college, contact the Alumni Office and the Career Services center to find out what programs your school offers for alumni. Many schools sponsor career mentoring programs, job placement assistance, and local networking events. People who graduated from the same school are inclined to help each other, so take advantage of your investment in education. If you belong to the University of Washington Alumni Association, check out Career Connections, a searchable database of UW alumni and friends offering information interviews and career networking.

4. Join a professional association in your field. Then become involved. By being an active participant, you can form valuable connections while learning more about your industry. You will also make a better impression as a person of action if you are making a contribution in some way. If you live in the Puget Sound area, The Puget Sound Networking Directory is an excellent resource to find local associations. A national resource is the Internet Public Library's reference site.

5. Write an article on a topic for which you would like to be thought of as an expert. As there are so many Web sites seeking good free content these days, it should be easy to find a forum for your work. Writing requires investigation of a topic and organization of thought, which are great marketable skills. If you contact colleagues to contribute to your article, it could be the start of a wonderful mutually beneficial relationship.

6. If you have a hobby or sport that you love, increase your participation to a level where you can meet other people who love the same thing. There are just as many people who have networked their way to new jobs through leisure activities as through professional ones. Visit the City of Seattle's Web site to find information about their many sports and recreation programs.

7. Join an online forum or newsgroup. Read the posting guidelines and lurk for a week or two to ensure you understand the netiquette of the community. Then look for opportunities to build relationships online by communicating with other members around shared interests. One good place to find online forums or newsgroups is Topica.

8. Get a recruiter's perspective on your marketability, as recruiters are in constant contact with employers and know what employers want. Jody Matthews of The Watson Group says, "Employers are asking for people who can hit the ground running. There needs to be a really close fit between what the employer wants and what you have to offer." Jody also believes it is important that you choose to do work you enjoy. She says, "I'm happiest when the employer is pleased and the new hire gets up in the morning looking forward to going to a job he or she loves."

9. Join a local Toastmasters group and bond with the other people who are terrified of public speaking, which is the #1 fear in America. When you muster the courage to give a speech, make it on a topic related to the work you want to do. An entire roomful of people will then associate you with the career path you are seeking. After you feel confident about your presentation skills, begin to advertise that you are on the job market.

10. If you loved the clarity and rules of school assignments but you have been feeling lost in the world of work, structure your job search like a research project with a big paper due at the end. Your assignment is to identify six companies that interest you, the job functions that are the best fit with your career history and preferences, the names of the hiring managers employed there, and a written marketing pitch that is most likely to result in an invitation to interview. Use your compiled research to create six approach letters that you must mail to the prospective employers at a pre-determined date.

The important thing is to make choices and start this week - if you have a successful networking story that you would like to profile on this Web site, please submit it to us for consideration - thank you!