Media and Occasions for Effective Career Networking
18 August 2006Career networking is part of your professional life. Can you avoid it? No way! You must build network in daily base and do it naturally and intuitively. The most effective networking is direct contact. From time to time you need to create an occasion to meet your contacts face to face. Invite him or her to have a cup of coffee or get them to have lunch together.
Telephone is an effective networking tool. Call your friends and family not just when you need help, call them often to show your care and offer help also. Email is a great way to stay in touch and tap people for information, favors and even jokes. You should use email frequently to say hello, exchange information, and network with colleagues.
The Internet is a great media for career networking. It links you to both job information and potential employers. Using the Internet you can research companies, job opportunities and salaries. You can join online forums on a special topic and meet people virtually. Even if you’re not job hunting, go online to find out about the competition, like which companies are hiring and for what.
Professional Association is a great place to start networking. It will happen easily as you meet your peers at functions. You’ll also discover the added bonus of drawing people to you. This happens naturally as you participate, run for office, accept leadership roles, serve on committees or give presentations. Greater visibility not only makes networking comfortable but also draws people to you, adding to your career development and stature. Similarly, religious affiliations work like professional groups and provide the advantage of working with people who share your values. Religious activities also provide opportunities for visibility, leadership and peer mentoring.
Taking courses in your field or special interests is a great way to meet peers and leaders in your discipline. Here’s another opportunity to expand your network. All it takes is a little time before or after class to chat with classmates and professors. Or stay in touch by email.
Lots of people fail to look at social events as opportunities to network. They’ll often turn down invitations to holiday parties, celebrations or fund-raising dinners, thinking they are wastes of time. Instead, these functions prove to be the best networking opportunities, because people are relaxed and in festive moods. They’ll often be more likely to respond to you in these types of situations. Next time, accept that invitation and nurture your relationships with people.
Nobody networks like politicians. When all else fails, remember who pays your representatives’ and senators’ salaries. You do. So why not tap their staffs for the information you need? Generally they’ll respond within 72 hours.
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