Business networking revolves around the age-old saying "It's not what you know, it's who you know." Tons of people are out there applying for all the same jobs that you are, and sometimes even if you have the best resume, cover letter, and set of credentials, you still won't get the job. Why? Because someone else networked and got the personal connection.
Networking it all about making personal contacts with people in the fields that you're interested in, finding out more about their jobs and trying to show them that you're a viable candidate for the job. At the same time, you're figuring out if the job they're doing is really something you're interested in. These events usually happen in 15-30 minute meetings that you arrange with the person you want to talk to. Usually people are more than happy to set aside some time to talk with you about what's going on at their place of business. These kinds of meetings aren't about trying to get a job, though; it's all about creating a network of people so that if an opportunity arises, you stand a better chance of getting chosen if you apply.
- Assemble a good resume, business card, and cover letter Trust me, even though you're not actually interviewing for a job when you're networking, you need to walk into every networking opportunity with the idea that you could be offered a job right there on the spot. That means you need to be completely prepared for anything, and your job-search sword-and-shield combo is your business card and resume. If the situation calls for it, be prepared to hand anyone who asks a copy of all three of those items.
- Ask for more contacts You don't ever want your network to hit a dead-end. If you know what area you want to work in, you want to keep pushing in the direction of success by talking to new people. At the end of your networking meeting, don't be afraid to ask your interviewee if they can think of any other people you should talk to about getting into your field. After all, since they work where you're trying to go, they're likely going to know more about who specifically would be a good contact for you, and who would be willing to give you their time.
- Follow-up within 24 hours I am TERRIBLE at this because I'm so scatterbrained, but you honestly need to follow-up with whoever you talked to with a thank-you card or email within 24 hours of your meeting. It lets them know that you appreciate what they're doing for you and that you're taking the opportunity seriously. If you can send a handwritten card that's even better, but trust me, an email is better than nothing. More than once I've tried to go the hand-written route and something's gone wrong that's prevented me from getting the job done; by the time I got all my stuff together days had passed, and that reflected poorly on me. Don't let the same thing happen to you!
- Loosen up! Yes, you're walking into a professional environment. Yes, you're trying to look for gainful employment in a career that you enjoy. Yes, you're going to be talking to people you've never met before. But the only way you're truly going to be able to show your passion for what you want to go into is to relax and enjoy the experience. You're both going to be feeling each other out during the talk, and you're both going to want to have a good time while you're talking. Make sure that you don't have any barriers between you and your A-game conversation skills, and that includes personal hygiene and mental preparation. Which leads us to...
- Don't neglect personal hygiene I'll keep repeating the word "don't" because I don't want you to think I'm somehow suggesting you make one of these critical errors. One of the worst mistakes you can make is to neglect showering, shaving, combing hair, brushing teeth, or any of those other first-impression influencing features. Before you even get the chance to open your mouth you're going to convey a message about who you are and what you stand for just based on what people perceive about you based on your looks. Is it fair? No. Can you fight to change a bad first impression? Yes. Do you want to put yourself in a position where you have to fight to make a good second impression? No. Don't make anything more difficult than it already will be.
- Don't leave awkward pauses in the conversation. No matter what the position you're applying for entails, you're going to be putting those communication skills to the test in a networking opportunity. If you're a poor conversationalist, it's going to get in the way of conveying the impression you're trying to give off. Make sure you're prepared with questions about the job, the person's history with the company, and tips they could give you about how to be successful in the business world. Extra Credit: Be on the look-out for personal side topics your interviewee seems to be introduce, sports they used to play or TV shows they're interested in. Sure, it's a business meeting, but you're talking to a living, breathing person with interests outside of their job. Show that you care about them as a person by talking BRIEFLY about those topics.
- Don't badmouth your current position A great way to turn off someone who possibly wants to give you a job is to talk crap about the person who's already employing you. Nobody wants to be at the receiving end of a verbal tongue lashing, particularly one where they can't defend themselves. Talking about your employer negatively can make the person you're talking to think that he/she will be the next recipient of your backstabbing...
- DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW UP. I'm emphasizing this because it's what I'm TERRIBLE AT. You HAVE to follow up, you have to keep asking questions and stay in contact with the people you talk to. Don't be a pest, but the more you keep in contact, the more serious you show you are for the opportunity you're pursuing, and the more likely that person is to think of you when an opportunity arises. You've gotta make sure that you're doing everything you can to make it easy for that person to think of you a stellar, prepared, efficient candidate. Trust me, efficient follow-ups can go a LONG WAY.
Well, those are my partial tips. I've met some great people doing networking, and I'll be talking about them in my next post. Disney College Program gives you a great launching point to start networking, but it's something that you can do anywhere at anytime. Look up some contact information on the internet for someone who has a job you want, and then drop them an email asking for some time. Even if they're far away, a phone interview is better than nothing. Trust me, networking can go a long way towards getting you the job you want instead of the job you have to have.
What do you think about networking? Have you been doing any? Any tips or tricks I haven't written about? Post 'em! Talk to you Wednesday!
-Josh
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