You Know More People Than You Think!
Creating that First Network List
By Melanie Joy Douglas, Monster.ca
Adapted from Monster Careers: Networking by Jeff Taylor and Doug Hardy 
In order to kick-start your inital networking list, try listing two or three people in each of the following categories:
- Family
- Friends
- Neighbours
- Your friends’ parents
- Your parents’ friends
- Your parents’ colleagues
- Your children’s friends’ parents
- Classmates
- Alumni(ae) of any school you attended, including high school
- Members of the local chamber of commerce
- Members of your church, temple, or other faith-based groups
- Professors
- Teachers
- Mentors
- Former Bosses
- Former or current colleagues
- Former or current customers
- Former employees whom you managed
- Members of the YMCA, YWCA, or other clubs
- Members of professional groups to which you belong
- Members of a service organization (e.g. the Rotary)
- School committee members
- Counselors
- Friends from military service
- Coaches (in sports, arts, hobbies, etc.)
- Your doctor
- Your lawyer
- Your insurance agent
- Your accountant or tax preparer
- Your auto mechanic
- The manager of your favourite coffee shop
- The bartender at your favourite watering hole
- The owner of maitre d’ of your favourite restaurant
- Your barber/hairstylist
- Your mortgage broker
- Your real estate broker
- Your veterinarian
- Your dry cleaner
- Any shop or business owners who know you by name (especially in ‘high touch’ businesses like art dealers, florists, dress shop managers, wedding planners, wine dealers—people who have long conversations with others)
- Any acquaintance who owes you a favour
Myth-busters
You might be inclined to leave some of the closest people in your life off the list, either because you think you know all the same people or because you’re afraid you will somehow abuse the relationship. Wrong. It’s actually a professional move to begin a network with friends and family, because they know you well and will be some of your best advocates.
You also might be inclined to leave people off the list because they don’t have a job to offer; for example, a friend who is currently unemployed. Wrong. At this point, you just want to know people who know other people. Never mind that they can’t hire you; they can connect you, and that’s what matters.