Less than 75 percent of jobs are found through written job postings. Job openings in newspapers or online through job search services are only about 20-25 percent of the actual jobs available, according to careermag.com.

So, the question is, who is getting those 75 percent of unpublished jobs and how do they know about them? The answer to this question and many other job-related woes is networking.

Question: What is networking and how can it help me find a job?

Answer: Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines networking as “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: The cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.” An easier way to think of networking is speaking to everyone you can. Your own specific network is like a web. In the middle you have the people you know very well. This could be family members or good friends. The outer layers of the web are the friends and family of your friends and family or employers you met at the Career Expo.

You may or may not know them well, but they are still valuable resources in your job search. It can be a little daunting to contact someone you really do not know well (i.e. cold calling), but because you have a connection to them and they are in your network, it’s easier.

The people in your network are those who know about the jobs that are not posted. Your job is identifying the people in your network who are going to know about the job opportunities you are interested in. This will be through talking to those in your “web.” There are of course, some rules of thumb that should be followed with networking. While I encourage you to meet as many people as possible (bigger network equals more potential job opportunities), there is a right way and a wrong way.

The right way is being personable and respectful when meeting someone.

The wrong way is accosting someone, demanding their business card, and then calling them daily to ask if they know of any job opportunities. While they might remember you because you are borderline stalking them, this is not the way you want to be remembered.

Stand out because you are intelligent, well-spoken and friendly – not because you are a stalker.

The bottom line is: Speak to as many people as you possibly can. Networking is the best way to find the multitude of positions that are not posted.