How Networking Resumes Can Boost Your Job Search (With Template)

When looking for a new job, your professional network is one of your most powerful tools. As you network with new people, having a document that introduces your professional background and goals can help people in your field connect you with relevant opportunities. Your networking resume—which is different than a traditional resume you'd send employers—can enable you to get the most out of every professional interaction and make a lasting impression on influential people in your industry. In this article, we explain the concept of a networking resume, provide tips and a template for writing one, and share techniques for leveraging your networking resume within your professional circle.

What are networking resumes?

A networking resume, or professional networking document, is a one-page summary of your professional identity that you can distribute to people in your professional network. Unlike a traditional resume that focuses mainly on your qualifications for a specific job or role, your networking resume is an overview of both your experience and your career aspirations. You might send out 10 different versions of your traditional resume to 10 different companies, but you only need one networking resume to share with others. While it's best practice to adapt your traditional resume to suit each specific job you're applying for, your networking resume should indicate your ideal job description and reference your full range of professional interests. This helps the right opportunities find you, instead of you having to actively seek out positions that match your goals. Related: Professional Networking: What It Is and How to Master It

What to include on a networking resume

Networking resumes feature some of the same information that you'd put on a traditional resume, plus extra information about who you are and what you're looking for. To get the best results, your networking resume should include these sections:

Contact information

A networking resume is essentially an in-depth business card, designed to facilitate connections and make it easy for potential employers and business partners to get in touch. Your contact information should be readily accessible at the top of your networking resume. Include your phone number, email, website and social media so your new contacts have plenty of channels they can use to reach out.

Professional summary

Your professional summary, also known as a personal profile, is a description of who you are, what you're looking for and what you can offer. This statement should be one or two sentences summarizing your professional identity. Because you're using your networking resume to connect with people one-on-one, you can be slightly less formal than you would with a traditional resume for a job application.

Key strengths

Sharing your core competencies alerts your professional network to your main areas of interest and expertise and what skills you could offer to their colleagues. Choose a cross-section of skills to showcase here that you'd want to pursue in your ideal career.

Accomplishments

Just like a standard resume, you should include a section describing your work experience and professional accomplishments. Focus on the impact of your work and how you as an individual helped your employer or clients achieve their goals. The purpose of this section is to show your aptitude for success in other environments.

Education

Include a short education section that describes any degrees or certifications. The people you're networking with can use this information to determine what roles you might qualify for. It's also a great way to connect with alumni from your school, providing you with a topic to bond over.

Titles

Now that you've introduced yourself and your achievements, this section and the remaining ones detail what you're looking for in your next role. You can list your ideal titles here, and if a networking contact has an available position in their company with the same title, it can be the start of a conversation.

Target organizations

Your networking resume should also feature examples of companies you'd like to consider working for. This is a direct way to access the professional network of a new contact. For instance, if your networking resume lists a specific target employer and you meet someone who knows its lead recruiter, you could have just taken the first step to getting introduced and earning a job. Include several companies to give your network an idea of the type of organizations where you want to build your career. If you're not sure what company names to use, you can include a brief description of what industries or types of businesses you want to work for instead of listing specific names.

Business values

Finally, include information about the ideal characteristics and company culture of your future employers. One of the main purposes of a networking resume is to find opportunities that match well with your needs and align with long-term growth. Being clear about your ideal environment will help your professional network make the best recommendations and introductions for you. Related: 10 Tips To Help You Network Like a Pro

Networking resume template

Using the previous descriptions for each section, here's a template you can use when preparing your networking resume: [Name]
[Phone number]
[Email]
[Website] Professional summary
[Description of your professional background and what you can offer to potential employers or business partners]

Key strengths
[List of core skills] Accomplishments
[Company], [Title] ([Start date] - [End date])
[General description of role]
[List of specific achievements] Education
[School], [City, State]
[Degree] Titles
[Types of titles of roles you're exploring] Target organizations
[Names of companies you want to work for or descriptions of the type of organizations you're interested in, with location preferences] Business values
[Core attributes of your ideal employer] To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file. Related: How To Network for a Job (Why It's Important and 7 Tips)

Networking resume example

Here's one example of a networking resume for a graphic designer at the start of their career: Russell Klein
512-555-0019
russell.klein@email.com
russellkleindesign.com

Professional summary
Innovative graphic designer with a passion for marketing who has proven metrics in increased digital engagement with evergreen designs, mesmerizing web content and clever branding. Key strengths

Front-end web design
Logos and branding
Social media content
Animation
Typography

Accomplishments
Blue Button Digital, Graphic Design Intern (November 2020–Present)
Contributed to the development of total design suites for small businesses seeking to expand their digital marketing efforts:

Designed original email layout templates resulting in a 50% increase in client click-through rates.
Improved landing pages for multiple clients to optimize user experience, consistently earning an over 90% preference rate in A/B testing.

Sunrise Bar & Grill, Social Media Manager (July 2018–September 2020)
Managed social media accounts and provided design services for advertisements and merchandise:

Developed on-brand designs for promotions and company swag, helping achieve the maximum capacity for pre-ordered merchandise.
Produced engaging images based on current web trends to boost social media shares by over 300% YOY.

Rainbow Bakery, Freelance Designer (April 2020)
Produced a comprehensive design suite for a new store launch and updates to existing locations:

Re-branded company image by creating original logos and typography that aligned with the client's minimalist vision.

Education
Moody College, Austin, TX
Associate of Arts in Graphic Design

Titles

Graphic Designer
Layout Artist
Multimedia Designer

Target organizations

Mid-sized marketing agencies
Foodservice
Retail
(DFW Metroplex or Telecommute)

Business values

Tech-focused
Socially conscious
Entrepreneurial

Related: 10 Types of Networking Events

How to use a networking resume

Sharing your networking resume when meeting new people at events or conferences is a great way to introduce yourself and determine if your new contact can help you advance your career. Try using these tips to leave a lasting impact:

1. Focus on the presentation

When formatting your networking resume, try using some color or including infographics to share more information about yourself. Standard resumes need a basic format for applicant tracking systems to properly identify their keywords, but networking resumes have much more flexibility. Adding visual interest to your networking resume could make your professional contacts more interested in reading about you. For digital file-sharing, make sure you have a concise and professional file name in an easily accessible format like a PDF. Note that these types of resumes shouldn't be sent when applying for jobs, as you'll want to flesh out your experience and use a more traditional resume format. Explore Indeed's resume samples

2. Be prepared

Keep several copies of your networking resume readily accessible in a folder so you can pass them out at opportune moments. This allows you to connect your first impression with your professional qualifications right away. One of the core aspects of effective networking is having the right timing, making preparation especially important for any situation where you might meet professional contacts. Related: Top Networking Skills You Should Have (And How to Improve Them)

3. Engage in conversation

Instead of just passing out your networking resume to everyone at the seminar or meeting, take the time to make face-to-face introductions and learn about the people you're talking to. You want to be able to naturally transition into discussing job opportunities or referrals, which involves asking questions and getting to know other people on an individual level. This also helps ensure that you're handing out your networking resume to people in your industry that could help you find a job and are actually interested in doing so.

4. Follow up

After sharing your networking resume with a new contact, get their contact information and follow up with them after a few days. Express that it was nice to meet them and continue your previous conversation. Showing interest in their professional experience can help your new networking contact feel more invested in you and your success. Because you've already established a connection, you can ask for advice or access to their professional contacts without overstepping. Related: The Benefits of Networking: 14 Reasons To Start Your Network

Tips for writing networking resumes

Here are some additional tips for crafting an effective networking resume that you'll be proud to share with others:

Start from scratch

While it might be tempting to modify your traditional resume, start your networking resume from scratch. Remember that your networking resume has a completely different audience than a traditional resume, so the language, format and content should all be original.

Be succinct

Avoid making your networking resume too wordy or dense—your professional contacts can easily disregard your networking resume if it seems hard to read. Be concise when describing your experience, including just enough information to initiate a conversation.

Envision your career goals

Spend some time thinking about your ideal job description and long-term career goals. You won't be able to find the perfect fit if you don't ask for it, so establishing your professional needs is essential for writing a networking resume that will help you make the right connections. Related: 10 Tips To Help You Build a Network (With Benefits)

Exude confidence

As you write about yourself and your experience, be proud and confident. This is one situation where you're allowed to brag about yourself. In networking situations, people want to know that the person they're vouching for is confident in their abilities. Confidently describing your achievements and using uplifting language can help you build trust with new contacts and make them want to learn more about you.