As the holidays approach, what comes to mind? Presents, time off, or, perhaps, parties? How about networking? Networking?!
During the holiday season, our priorities tend to shift to taking time off, shopping or making travel plans. Others, looking for a job, consider postponing their search efforts until the beginning of the year when everyone is back in business mode. Not so. Savvy networkers know that holiday gatherings provide a suitable environment to identify and engage in potential relationships. The plain fact that many professionals put their networking efforts on hold until after the holidays creates a prime opportunity to network. Simply put, there is less competition and more chances to get to know key people one on one.
Planes, Trains, Parties and the Food Pantry
A great number of people commute during the holidays. Planes, airports and other means of transportation are excellent places to engage in conversation and ‘practice' networking. Given the current wait time between check-in and boarding, travelers have a greater opportunity to make small talk that could lead to more meaningful conversation.
A second opportunity for holiday networking is the holiday party hosted by student or professional organizations. For those looking for work, holiday events hosted by professional organizations provide an optimal environment to connect with those interested in your field. An added bonus: the holiday season is the one time when companies sponsoring professional organizations make a point to be visible.
A third --often overlooked place to network-- is through volunteer work. An overwhelming sense of generosity kicks in during the holidays. While delivering meals on Thanksgiving Day several years ago, my husband and I met a woman who lived in our town and worked for a company that I had targeted as a potential employer. She gave me some pointers regarding the organization, and I helped her connect with a town official whom I knew well and she was trying to reach. It was a win-win that resulted from casual conversation and common interest.
Holiday networking may seem an unorthodox way to connect with people and build relationships. However, if you follow the premise that networking is a lifelong skill and not a tactic to a short-term goal, you will uncover the secret that savvy networkers share: Networking does not take a holiday!
Writer's note: Parts of this post we previously published in Color Magazine.
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Showing posts with label networking tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label networking tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The art of following up
At a recent workshop about networking, I had to bite my tongue. Although the tips and techniques shared were effective in emphasizing the importance of building relationships long term, another concern bothered me: how to follow up with someone after the initial meeting.
Picture this scenario. You attend a workshop, career fair or a networking session. The most natural next step is to exchange business cards or to ask for someone's card to stay in touch. What really happens afterwards? Nothing. There seems to be a belief that having someone else's card in our possession is enough to reach out to them later when it is needed. False. This is not the most effective way to follow up with someone we just met. They may have met many people that day. So, how do you stand out? By following up right away. Here is how.
Picture this scenario. You attend a workshop, career fair or a networking session. The most natural next step is to exchange business cards or to ask for someone's card to stay in touch. What really happens afterwards? Nothing. There seems to be a belief that having someone else's card in our possession is enough to reach out to them later when it is needed. False. This is not the most effective way to follow up with someone we just met. They may have met many people that day. So, how do you stand out? By following up right away. Here is how.
- Send a quick and short note within two days. Include where you met to give a point of reference. Mention something about discussed during your conversation that will help remember you. Here is an example: "Good morning Ms. Smith, it was a real pleasure meeting you at the Careers in STEM workshop at Princeton University last Monday. As an engineer (here you include your current professional status), your comments about the outlook for job growth in the field of chemical engineering were highly encouraging."
- Rank the relationship. Decide whether this contact is someone with long term potential or if you are mostly interested in a more tactical relationship like an informational interview or a resume critique. Beware: if your main goal is to have her introduce you to a hiring manager, you must be patient and take time to build trust.
- Find ways to remain top of mind. A common way to remain on your contact's radar is to send occasional emails with articles or links related to her area of interest. Other ways to build engagement: ask for a short meeting for an informational interview, extend an invitation to participate in a future workshop, conference, or send a note during a major holiday.
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Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The ABC's of job fairs
Believe or not job fairs are still around. They are the most effective vehicle for employers to maximize their recruitment dollars. Aside from the usual advice about preparing for a job fair (i.e. bring lots of resumes, visit every booth, have a firm hand shake) here are three commonly suggested tips with a twist.
Attitude. By attitude I am mainly talking about the way you carry yourself. Yes, you are looking for work. Yes, you are really hoping that this time you will get an interview that will lead to an offer. But do you have to look, sound and appear desperate? No! In addition to exuding confidence through your clothes, hair, and accessories, attitude is also about your posture and most importantly your disposition. In other words, how are you enduring the constant selling of yourself? Are you able to keep your head up high and continue to smile even if you keep hearing, thanks for no, thanks?
Bring extras. Here extras refer to materials that might differentiate you from the rest. Do bring your resume as this is a requirement to get your foot in the door. But how about having some other type of collateral to showcase your talent and skills? For example, in addition to getting business cards, you could have marketing brochures made. If your area is writing or research, you could bring a list of documents and studies that you have produced. I have even seen links of short videos added in resumes as a way to stand out from the crowd.
Communicate clearly. That is, communicate your value clearly. This is another way of saying have your elevator pitch ready. And by ready I don't mean to sound like a broken record. Your pitch must come across as natural although you and I know that you have repeated it a dozen times in front of the mirror. And do not stop at the elevator pitch. Be prepared to answer questions as a result of your pitch.
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Attitude. By attitude I am mainly talking about the way you carry yourself. Yes, you are looking for work. Yes, you are really hoping that this time you will get an interview that will lead to an offer. But do you have to look, sound and appear desperate? No! In addition to exuding confidence through your clothes, hair, and accessories, attitude is also about your posture and most importantly your disposition. In other words, how are you enduring the constant selling of yourself? Are you able to keep your head up high and continue to smile even if you keep hearing, thanks for no, thanks?
Bring extras. Here extras refer to materials that might differentiate you from the rest. Do bring your resume as this is a requirement to get your foot in the door. But how about having some other type of collateral to showcase your talent and skills? For example, in addition to getting business cards, you could have marketing brochures made. If your area is writing or research, you could bring a list of documents and studies that you have produced. I have even seen links of short videos added in resumes as a way to stand out from the crowd.
Communicate clearly. That is, communicate your value clearly. This is another way of saying have your elevator pitch ready. And by ready I don't mean to sound like a broken record. Your pitch must come across as natural although you and I know that you have repeated it a dozen times in front of the mirror. And do not stop at the elevator pitch. Be prepared to answer questions as a result of your pitch.
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Elevator pitch tips
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Monday, October 3, 2011
Elevator pitch tips
You probably have heard it many times,"when looking for a job, you must have an elevator pitch." An elevator pitch or elevator speech-- for those who might need a refresher--is a summary of who you are and what you are looking for. And although it comes in many flavors, an elevator pitch, for the purpose of this post, is aimed at showcasing you and your talents and experience as a potential employee.
The internet offers thousands of suggestions on how to develop and deliver an elevator pitch, so I won't repeat what it has already been said. What I would do, though, is pinpoint a few obvious-- but often missed--tips about creating an effective elevator pitch.
Be Short. Experts tell us that an elevator pitch should be about 60 seconds long. Have you ever tried to speak non stop for a whole minute? You can say a lot in a minute. So, if the idea of doing a 60-second summary sounds intimidating, think in terms of sentences. For example, let's start with six sentences. The first two could introduce you (e.g. name, industry focus, major). The next two could address your professional experience and interest (e.g. internships, previous work, accomplishments). The last two could link your experience to the employer's current needs and suggest next steps (e.g. interview).
Be Clear. Sometimes in trying to impress someone in the shortest amount of time, we use fancy words that could become tongue twisters or make us sound fake. Use common language. Your goal is to help the listener understand who you are and what you can do for them. Quantifying results is a always a winner (i.e. increased revenues by 30%, decreased expenses by 40%).
Be Sincere. This is a tricky suggestion because the success of delivering a flawless elevator pitch relies on having spent time rehearsing. Be aware. I suggest to spend time rehearsing, but do not come across rehearsed. You must sound sincere. Rehearse to the point that you feel comfortable saying it to anyone in front of you. But do not, please, do not rehearse it with the intent of memorizing every word. If you forget one word and go blank, you are dead in the water.
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The internet offers thousands of suggestions on how to develop and deliver an elevator pitch, so I won't repeat what it has already been said. What I would do, though, is pinpoint a few obvious-- but often missed--tips about creating an effective elevator pitch.
Be Short. Experts tell us that an elevator pitch should be about 60 seconds long. Have you ever tried to speak non stop for a whole minute? You can say a lot in a minute. So, if the idea of doing a 60-second summary sounds intimidating, think in terms of sentences. For example, let's start with six sentences. The first two could introduce you (e.g. name, industry focus, major). The next two could address your professional experience and interest (e.g. internships, previous work, accomplishments). The last two could link your experience to the employer's current needs and suggest next steps (e.g. interview).
Be Clear. Sometimes in trying to impress someone in the shortest amount of time, we use fancy words that could become tongue twisters or make us sound fake. Use common language. Your goal is to help the listener understand who you are and what you can do for them. Quantifying results is a always a winner (i.e. increased revenues by 30%, decreased expenses by 40%).
Be Sincere. This is a tricky suggestion because the success of delivering a flawless elevator pitch relies on having spent time rehearsing. Be aware. I suggest to spend time rehearsing, but do not come across rehearsed. You must sound sincere. Rehearse to the point that you feel comfortable saying it to anyone in front of you. But do not, please, do not rehearse it with the intent of memorizing every word. If you forget one word and go blank, you are dead in the water.
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First impressions tips and strategies
Managing your professional reputation
Monday, September 19, 2011
Career tips during Hispanic Heritage month
The festivities to honor Hispanic Heritage month are well on their way. And, aside from free food and live music, there are hidden opportunities for job seekers looking to engage in the celebration while continuing to identify potential job leads.
Typically, two groups host events related to Hispanic Heritage month: Student organizations and Professional organizations. Let's look at each and the job seeking opportunities they offer.
Student organizations focus on social events to attract new members. On occasion they will invite a speaker to campus. I remember listening to actress and director Rosie Pérez give an impassioned talk at Babson College a few years back. In these types of events, your goal as a job seeker is to meet and build a network of peers and, perhaps, college professors and advisers who may share your area of interest. Another way to participate is to practice your leadership, organizing and event management skills by volunteering to help the planning committee.
Professional organizations offer a different experience. They usually attract sponsors (read companies looking to hire) and openly promote sharing resumes and business cards. This type of event is the optimal venue to find job leads. A job seeker would benefit the most by learning in advance what companies will be attending in order to research them ahead of time. Networking skills that go beyond exchanging information will be the most effective. For instance, you could ask the company representative for an informational interview or ask him about his experience with the organization. Volunteering is also another tactic that will give you an insiders view and possibly catch the eye of recruiter.
Hispanic Heritage month places the spotlight on Latinos. Organizations interested in learning about Hispanics--or Latinos--will make themselves available through sponsorships and hosting events. What a better forum for you to showcase your talents, skills and experience!
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Typically, two groups host events related to Hispanic Heritage month: Student organizations and Professional organizations. Let's look at each and the job seeking opportunities they offer.
Student organizations focus on social events to attract new members. On occasion they will invite a speaker to campus. I remember listening to actress and director Rosie Pérez give an impassioned talk at Babson College a few years back. In these types of events, your goal as a job seeker is to meet and build a network of peers and, perhaps, college professors and advisers who may share your area of interest. Another way to participate is to practice your leadership, organizing and event management skills by volunteering to help the planning committee.
Professional organizations offer a different experience. They usually attract sponsors (read companies looking to hire) and openly promote sharing resumes and business cards. This type of event is the optimal venue to find job leads. A job seeker would benefit the most by learning in advance what companies will be attending in order to research them ahead of time. Networking skills that go beyond exchanging information will be the most effective. For instance, you could ask the company representative for an informational interview or ask him about his experience with the organization. Volunteering is also another tactic that will give you an insiders view and possibly catch the eye of recruiter.
Hispanic Heritage month places the spotlight on Latinos. Organizations interested in learning about Hispanics--or Latinos--will make themselves available through sponsorships and hosting events. What a better forum for you to showcase your talents, skills and experience!
If you liked this post, you might like:
The 411 on informational interviews
The benefits of joining professional organizations
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Effective networking tips for job seekers
There are infinite articles about networking to find a job. They all say pretty much the same: you have to get out there and sell yourself. The implication is that networking is an activity focused on meeting the "right" people that will help you achieve something. In this case, that something is a job lead, an interview, or an internship. Wrong!! Networking is about cultivating relationships for mutual benefit. The key word is cultivating, which means that results from networking will not happen overnight.
So, what is the quickest way to produce effective job hunting results from networking?
Start with people who already know you. I mean people who will return your calls, emails, those with whom you have had several interactions and have stayed in touch. Why? Because they could act as your ambassadors and help establish your trustworthiness with others. They could help you consider perspectives or ideas you have not thought about. And most importantly, they could offer support when things are not happening the way you expect.
Sort them by categories and rank them. The three categories are: friends, family and professional contacts. Although you may be tempted to name everyone that you hang out with, focus on those that will feel comfortable to offer feedback, share your passion to proactively look for opportunities and believe in your ability to succeed as a young professional. Use these three qualifiers to rank them. For instance, of all of the family members mentioned, who are the top three that could be best at offering practical advice, or the one with the most knowledge about the type of career you want to pursue?
Looking for work does not have to be done in isolation. But before you start asking everyone you know to send you job leads, do a bit of homework. Take the time to work your network of contacts and be clear about how they can be of assistance during you job search. This approach will save you lots of time, find qualified allies, and get you faster results.
If you liked this post, you might like:
Four things to do while looking for work
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So, what is the quickest way to produce effective job hunting results from networking?
Start with people who already know you. I mean people who will return your calls, emails, those with whom you have had several interactions and have stayed in touch. Why? Because they could act as your ambassadors and help establish your trustworthiness with others. They could help you consider perspectives or ideas you have not thought about. And most importantly, they could offer support when things are not happening the way you expect.
Sort them by categories and rank them. The three categories are: friends, family and professional contacts. Although you may be tempted to name everyone that you hang out with, focus on those that will feel comfortable to offer feedback, share your passion to proactively look for opportunities and believe in your ability to succeed as a young professional. Use these three qualifiers to rank them. For instance, of all of the family members mentioned, who are the top three that could be best at offering practical advice, or the one with the most knowledge about the type of career you want to pursue?
Looking for work does not have to be done in isolation. But before you start asking everyone you know to send you job leads, do a bit of homework. Take the time to work your network of contacts and be clear about how they can be of assistance during you job search. This approach will save you lots of time, find qualified allies, and get you faster results.
If you liked this post, you might like:
Four things to do while looking for work
How to land a job in a difficult economy
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