Networking is a critical part of the search. This is especially true in the current job market. Beginning a job search requires serious planning. Would you decide to take a vacation without research, plans and reservations?

There are five steps to a successful job search by networking:

1) Develop a plan for your job search. Give some thought to your skills, interests and experience. Start a list with this information. Determine how much time you will devote to this search. If you are unemployed, you need to dedicate the same number of hours you previously worked. Job searching is now your new job.

2) Develop a current resume. If you have skills, experience or education applicable to more than one industry, you need a resume for each industry. If you need some guidance with the resume preparation, there are books and software programs available to assist you.

When you have finished the groundwork by developing a plan and preparing a resume, you are ready to begin the networking process.

3) Set up a system to organize your networking endeavor. This step is extremely important to your networking success. Without organization, this process will not succeed. You can set up a spreadsheet on the computer or use the old-fashioned spiral notebook. Who should be included in your network? Include friends, family, co-workers or previous co-workers as a starting point. Write down names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses and a date column to track communications. You also need space to write comments and notes after each contact. Now, add to your network names of church members, your hairdresser and neighbors. You may have a conversation in a doctor’s waiting room that leads to a job possibility. Add former employers and former classmates because anyone may be a source of information that results in a job. Once the initial network has been set up, go online and visit job boards.

4) You now have your plan, your current resume and your initial network has been set up. Begin contacting the network by phone, email or mail. Let everyone know that you are looking for a job. You may be asked for a copy of your resume; be sure to send it right away.

5) Stay in contact with your network by following up at least once a week. Keep them informed of your progress and be sure to thank each one.

Do not underestimate the power of your network. It has been reported that at least 60% of all jobs are found by networking. Some career experts report that networking accounts for far more than 60% of jobs found. Once you have your new job, contact everyone in the network and share the good news. Send everyone a thank you note for their time and effort on your behalf.

References are one of the most important factors in your job search. Potential employers don’t usually call your references until the very end. When they’ve seen your resume and interviewed you and they think you’re the one, then they’ll want to call your references to make sure

First, a little about how reference checks work. Potential employers will want to talk to people who have worked with you. At least one of your references should be somebody that you reported to directly (a former boss). Others can be co-workers, people from other companies who interacted with you at work, even clients. It’s okay to include a personal reference too. This may be someone who knows you personally but hasn’t worked with you.

If you’re currently employed, you probably don’t want your current employer to know that you’re looking for a job. Your new potential employer will understand if you don’t give them permission to call your current supervisor. But you do need people who have worked can speak to your work performance. You could give the name of your supervisor and others from your previous job. If there is someone who worked with you at your current employer but has now left the company, that could be a good resource. If you’ve done any volunteer work, someone there could provide a reference.

If you are not currently employed and you don’t provide the name and number of your most recent supervisor, your potential employer will wonder why.

Most companies have policies against giving references. That’s because if they say something negative about a former employee, they could be sued. If you give your potential employer the name and number of the HR person from a former job, that person will likely only confirm that you worked for them and when.

Ask people if they will give you a reference. If they say no, or cite the company policy, don’t give their name as a reference. If they were so enthusiastic about you that they would give a glowing report, they would have said yes. Be very careful about asking anyone associated with your current job. Word might get back to your employer. You could also damage your employer’s position by tipping your hand to the wrong person. For example, you are an account rep serving an important client. If you leave, your employer will want to position it carefully it a way that makes their clients feel that their needs are still going to be taken care of. If you ask that client for a reference, you leave your company is an awkward spot.

Leave on spectacular terms. Do not put your employer in a difficult position when you depart. Give two weeks notice and come to work every day during those two weeks. Do everything you can so that the next person can pick up your job easily. Even if you’re not pleased with your current employer, you should do these things because you’ll need them to give you great references the next time you look for a job.