One of the better ways to find new job opportunities is by networking. The biggest challenge in networking is getting connected to people you neither know nor have access to. But the challenge is well worth accepting. Here are a few ways to expand your network:

• Write to new contacts directly. Believe it or not, one of the best ways to get a perfect stranger to agree to help you is simply by using a well-written, highly personalized letter. The trick is to find some pretext for writing and to demonstrate how that person’s input will help you directly.
• Become active in associations. People are far more approachable at meetings, civic events, and social events than they are when they’re working at their desks.
• Do volunteer work. Getting involved with volunteer organizations is a great way to network because you’re meeting people who share common values and goals. Be careful, though. Your principal focus in doing volunteer work should be the work itself and the people you’re helping, not the people you’re trying to meet in order to expand your network.