The aim of networking is to develop and maintain relationships-something women are naturally good at in their personal lives, but not so great at when it comes to their careers. Think of networking as sharing time, information, resources, and opportunities. It can be as simple as just talking to everyone you know.

Networking is crucial throughout your career, but at this moment, you're networking with a purpose: to find job opportunities. Your goal is to spin a huge web of contacts who will lead you to someone who needs to hire a person just like you. The larger your web, the more prospects you'll have. The following tips and ideas will help you network like a pro, but it's up to you to take action.

Keep a Rolodex. It's crucial to keep track of everyone you contact. We love the old-fashioned fun of flipping through a Rolodex, but you may prefer the convenience of a Palm Pilot. An inexpensive notebook, address book, or box of index cards is just as effective. Save all the business cards you receive during your networking activities and make cards for prospective contacts. Mark down the date of each interaction with each person-meetings, phone calls, and résumé mailings. Record who refers you to whom and how you followed up. Regularly flip through these contact cards or notebook pages to make sure no contact falls through the cracks.

Start close to home. The question is: who do you know? And the answer: more people than you think. And those people know countless others. So get the word out-seize every opportunity to publicize your job search. Shout it from the rooftops! Begin asking for assistance with the right attitude. You are in business to get a job. Tell your clergy, clubs, professional organization members, volunteer contacts, merchants, civic leaders, neighbors, and anyone and everyone they know as well. Don't leave out your classmates, former classmates, school alumni, teachers, professors, coaches, and anyone who was ever on your team or in your class. Coworkers, former co-workers, bosses, and friends' bosses count, too. Be specific: instead of just asking them "who's hiring," let them know the type of position you're looking for.

 Get your hair cut and your teeth cleaned. Mention what you're interested in to everyone-your personal trainer, the babysitter, the butcher, the baker-you get the idea. You never know who might know someone who knows someone who knows someone. Hairdressers and dentists tend to know everyone, so tap them for leads.

Be a good listener. Even if you're not great at small talk, it's easy to be a good listener. Everyone loves to talk about himself or herself, and other people's experiences are a great way to learn about a career or a company, as well as potential job openings. Just ask a few key questions: "What do you do?" "Where are you working?" "How'd you get started?" Then sit back and soak up the information. A random encounter at a coffee shop or on a subway may spark a new job or industry idea in your head.

Find a reason to call. We know it's uncomfortable to call someone out of the blue to say hello, especially when what you really want to do is scream, "Can't you find me a friggin' job?" Find articles or news programs that you might recommend to your key contacts. "I saw this article and thought of you ..." shows you are up on your current events and that your professional life is top-of-mind. This tactic is sure to impress! If you can't come up with something quite as clever, invite your contact for afternoon tea or an evening cocktail at the newest spot in town. It's less expensive than a whole meal, and that drink could lead to great connections. Instead of asking for a job, start by offering your contact the opportunity to share their career advice and individual stories.

Use your alumni association. College alumni are an often-untapped resource, which is a shame since they can be some of your best connections for career networking. Aside from maintaining a vast network of contacts, many of whom are ready to help fellow graduates, career service offices also offer a range of services. These include résumé critiques, career assessment instruments, seminars, career days, employer information sessions, alumni networking clubs, and access to online job listings. Most schools around the country provide reciprocity for their alumni at other schools.

If you attended a small college and you've found that none of the alumni connections are relevant, ask your alma mater to write a letter on your behalf seeking services at other career centers around the country. Such arrangements allow you to tap into that network and make use of their resources. Similarly, when approaching alumni for assistance with your search, be prepared to share the latest campus news and excitement. This often provokes a sense of nostalgia and triggers memories from their time on campus. That connection can strengthen their desire to assist your efforts. It is also an opportunity for them to learn what kind of career opportunities new graduates are currently pursuing.

Do your homework. Before getting in touch with your new contact or alumnus, research his or her company. Familiarize yourself with the organization's structure, products and services, and competitors, as well as how this person's job fits into the organization. Go beyond reading the Web site. Read trade journals and other industry magazines.

Prepare for an informational interview. You've convinced someone to give you their valuable time. Don't squander it. Be prepared, professional, polite, and to the point. Create a list of questions to ask based on your individual goals and the knowledge you have gained through your research. Among the potential questions:

• Why does this type of work interest you, and how did you get started?
• Why did you choose to join your current company?
• What do you find most satisfying in your work?
• What are the major frustrations in your job?
• What pitfalls should I be sure to avoid?
• If you had to start over, would you pick this role again? What about this company?
• What are the top skills someone must possess to be successful in this line of work?
• What's the best career advice you ever received?
• What advice would you give to someone starting out in or looking to break into this field?
• What professional organizations do you consider most beneficial for career development?
• What is the current hiring outlook for your organization? How does that differ from the hiring outlook in the industry as a whole?
• Would you be willing to review my résumé and provide feedback?
• What specific steps should I take to advance my career?
• When would be a good time to follow up with you to stay in touch?