Improve Your Networking Skills

NETWORKING.  What is the first thing you think of when you hear this word?  Time consuming?  Intimidating?  Out-dated? For most, it’s probably all three.  Networking doesn’t mean throwing your most outgoing personality on the businessman or automatically asking for a job.  Networking is a way to gain information from those successful in their industry to help you in creating relationships. 

Need help networking?  An article written by Barbara Safani illustrates seven easy steps to successful networking.  The first step is to ask for information, not a job.  This is a common mistake that many people are guilty of committing.  Since networking is about building relationships with those who could help you in your search for a job, show interest in their industry and how they became successful.  Ask for tips on scoring your dream job or what employers look for in a resume.

When networking do not take up all their time.  The most common place to network is at conventions where there are many businessmen and women in multiple areas of work.  They all want to connect with each other to better their industry.  Instead of telling them your life story, pick out strategic parts of your career that may interest them.  And allow for them to do the talking.  You ask the question, they will give you an answer.

Always be personable.  Let them connect with you on a professional and personal level.  They may forget the professionalism because of the number of people that network with them, but they will not forget someone who touches a personal tone with them.  After networking, always send a thank you note.  Email is quite common these days, but taking the time to hand write a note is much more impressionable.

To read more about networking, follow the link to http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/01/27/ultimate-guide-to-networking/.  The site also includes videos to improve your networking skills and similar articles involving networking.