Ask the Expert Dr. Kathleen Wells is a professional career coach and Director of Coaches That Care. She has coached thousands of clients through the stages of successful career development. Networking Meetings Q: I am considering seeking a new position. How do I initiate networking meetings? A: This is an excellent question and a critical part of any successful job search. You can go two ways on this depending how comfortable you are and what type of business you are in. If you are a chatty person who enjoys introducing yourself to strangers at meetings and functions, you can initiate networking contacts by simply doing just that. Attend local business association and professional meetings that are pertinent to your career field. Introduce yourself to everyone and ask for their business cards. Tell them you are in an information gathering mode and ask if you might call their offices to schedule a brief meeting at their convenience. If you are not comfortable sticking your hand under a stranger's nose and introducing yourself, take a more formal approach. Write a letter to your target and introduce yourself that way. Include the portion of your marketing portfolio known as a background summary. In your closing paragraph, tell the contact that you will call in a few days to schedule a brief meeting. Follow up with that call and be prepared going in with questions about the position or career you seek. Networking is essential in a market where 80 percent of positions are not advertised.