| |
Business networking is a valuable tool for everyone, in particular for those who are actively looking for a job or to gain business from new clients. Networking is a way of reaching out and increasing your visibility by letting people know who you are and what you do.
By effective networking, you can make it so that people remember you and what you do. As they go about their business they may find that they or someone they know may need someone of your particular talents. If you have successfully made an impression, they'll seek you out.
Some people believe that you must know the right people in order to be successful at networking, but this is simply not true. Networking can be done anywhere and with anyone. Never rule anyone out as not having the ability to be useful. You never know who they may know or possibly run into at some time in the future. Take a genuine interest in people around you.
Find out what they do and where they work. Don't be shy; ask if there are openings and if it would be possible for you to get in for an interview. Tell people what you do and what you hope for. Make up some business cards and hand them out liberally. Some of them may end up getting tossed into the trash but just having your name, occupation and phone number out in circulation gives you more of a chance of getting a contact.
When networking, always be courteous and professional when dealing with anyone. This gives a good impression of you and people remember this.
It would be a good idea to build some kind of filing system of all the people you come in contact with. If you were to receive a call from someone out of the blue as a result of previous contact, it leaves a lasting impression on them if you are able to remember exactly who they are and the circumstances of your initial meeting. This makes people feel special and they are more likely to want to help you.
A simple way of doing this would be to file their business card, if you received one, with a simple notation of whom the person is and where you met. If you didn't receive a card then simply note the person's name and occupation along with a brief description. People feel special when they're remembered.
Remember always, networking isn't just about you. Listen to the people you meet and keep their information on file so that if you were to hear of an opportunity you can let them know also. If someone you know has helped you by getting you in the door then take some time to thank them for their help.
For more information on networking, and to get a free job hunting report, visit Claim That Job at http://www.claimthatjob.com .
Claim That Job is the ultimate Career Management and Job Hunting guide. You will be taken through the strategies and tips required to be a success in today's competitive job market. Claim That Job - http://www.claimthatjob.com
 EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here
More articles by Sharon Alexander
- If There Is One Secret To Successful Marketing, It's Your Unique Selling Proposition (Garry Macdonald)
This article dicusses the marketing-critical concept of Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Anyone serious about successfully marketing their product or service must develop a USP. - Valuing Individual Differences - Key To Team Success (Andrew Cox)
Leaders place a high value on being able to see things through different lenses. Successful problem solving teams and project teams value individual differences as the means of arriving at innovative ways to meeting their goals. The keys in valuing differences as key to team success involve two dimensions.
|