4: People
The second of the 3Ps is People. Research is clear that one of the major determinants of clients moving forward towards their employability goals is their access to and use of networks and support systems. Many clients do not know how to access supports. Many are reluctant to seek out networks for a host of reasons. Identifying and leveraging networks is where people intersect with informal LMI.
Most people have more networks than they realize. Sometimes these supports can be right in front of them but are not recognized as such. This is one of the reasons why, if you ask a client directly to identify their network, they often have very little to say.
In reality, however, most people have at least the beginnings of networks. Expanding their understanding of the networks already within their reach is the first step to recognizing how the people they already know can be an invaluable source of informal LMI.
Take a moment to consider your own network. How many people do you think you have in your network? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands?
Who did you include in your consideration?
- Were all your current and former colleagues included?
- What about neighbours, friends, and family?
- Did you consider all those you may know through activity-based groups, like a local sports association, book club, or arts community?
- What about anyone you have met through participation in local faith-based activities, such as attending a church, synagogue, temple, or mosque?
- Are there connections you have from any past education and training, for example other former students, instructors, and teachers?
Recognizing these network connections helps identify that the relationships, whether close or casual, can lead to powerful informal LMI insights and supports. CDPs can support clients by helping them recognize the connections they already have and how to leverage them, for example by requesting an introduction to a hiring manager, proactively reaching out to share a resume even where no specific role is posted, or requesting to join a private discussion group for a company or sector of interest.
