5 NETWORKING TIPS
Networking events
Are a great place to show up and start practicing your skills. You never know, you may even end up getting a new job!
Networking
is a two-way street.
1 | YOUR CIRCLE:
A great way to meet people is to meet them through people you already talk to and know. Referrals from people they already know tend to result in warmer introductions and allows you to join conversations much easier that cold introductions.
2 | LISTEN:
It is easy to get carried away at events and focus too much on portraying your best self, after all you are there for a reason. But it is just as important to listen to what the other person has to say.
3 | SOCIAL MEDIA:
Social media has great benefits, one being that it allows you to reach out and contact people without limits of physical location. Use resources like LinkedIn to reach out and get to know people in your industry.
4 |RESPECT THEIR TIME:
Once you’ve gotten that appointment, take the time to prepare what you hope to discuss. Create an outline and be mindful of respecting their time.
5 | DON’T ASK FOR A JOB:
Yes, ultimately most of us network so that we can find a job, but networking is not about asking or demanding. It is about increasing your knowledge and learning how to better position yourself for jobs. While networking, be sure to focus on asking for tips or information that will help you in your job search. Over time, and after building a solid relationship, you may be the first person they think of when they hear of a new opportunity, and vice versa.
For most people, networking brings up anxiety as they begin to think about who among their contacts they can call and ask for a job! In that light, most people end up pushing it off and hiding from networking events.
The truth is networking is that it is a two-way street. At the core, networking is about building sincere relationships that allow people to know each other better and find ways you can each help the other one out in return.
