Where some traditional ways of finding a job, like print, have been on the decline for years, networking has been, and continues to be, a powerful approach in finding a job. Networking Events come in many forms: career fairs / hiring events, social, business, learning events and more. Organizations like Chamber of Commerce, Smart Business Hawaii, Society of Human Resource Management are all on an on-going basis hosting various events (often open to non-members as well) and many of these events offer great opportunities to networking. Make an effort researching about the various networking events and reach out to these organizations and ask if they can update you on events open to non-members. People in Hawaii are friendly and tend to be very helpful, so get out there, ask and participate. Networking events leaves you a chance to meet professionals from our community and even though probably will not land a job at an event, you have the chance to establish relationships, which can be very valuable in finding a job. 

Networking is also a great way to overcome shyness and insecurities. You may feel over-whelmed with negative thoughts like: I don't have much to offer or people won't be interested in what I have to say. Rather, consider taking the approach of listening to whomever you approach and try to be a help to them and see how the conversation may unfold and please, don't judge people by thinking you don't have anything of value to say: let them decide. Consider bringing a friend along as well; don't hang around at the event, but it can give a certain level of comfort to have a friend come along and share the experience. 

Networking events can have so many valuable attributes not only on your job searching, but on a different human level in improving one's comfort and overall self-satisfaction.

Hawaii Job Engine