Career Q &
A
By guest columnist Mitchell Stephenson
January 19, 2009
International networkers unite!
I thought I would use this column to point out an exciting upcoming event that highlights something you should use on an ongoing basis throughout your career.
So what are you doing on February 3rd? If you said, "Expanding my business network for International Networking Day," you win! Now, you don’t have to travel to the international conference in Pittsburgh, PA to take advantage of any opportunity to learn (and do!) more about networking (this event is geared more for business owners than individuals, but it follows the same fundamental principles of networking). Read on to see what you can do for yourself and your career to celebrate.
Networking can be fun
There are a lot of misconceptions about networking, which tends to lead people to avoid it altogether. This can be a big mistake, particularly with the current economic environment we are facing. You can refer to the CharityVillage archives for more details about networking, but as a general refresher and "call to action", consider the following:
Start with WHAT you WANT. Networking without a stated purpose is called socializing - we often confuse networking and everyday socializing. For effective networking, you must spend time before you talk to anyone to define and refine what your stated purpose is for your networking initiative. Examples include:
- I am considering getting a new job in the same field and need some information.
- I want information about transitioning into another field entirely.
- I need contacts for possible job leads.
The purposes for networking are many, but make sure you clearly understand your purpose before you start, or you’re just wasting everyone’s time.
Then look at WHAT you KNOW. Networking without a message is like having a postal system in a world with no writing. This is where your "elevator" speech comes into play. Simply put, your elevator speech is a 30 to 60 second dialogue that states:
- Who you are
- Where you’ve been
- What you are doing now
- Where you want to go
That’s a lot to cover in under a minute, so you have to cut it down to the essentials, have it prepared beforehand, and practice it. For example:
"Hi, I’m Humpty Dumpty, and have been sitting on this wall for 12 years in increasingly senior positions. I am considered an expert in my current role of wall-sitter, and actually was the national champion for the last four years straight, but have recently thought about taking up skydiving."
You can add:
"I’d love to talk to you about this initiative I’m proposing to get your opinion"
Then look at WHO you KNOW. This is where most people get stumped. In our example above, Humpty needs to get in touch with a skydiving expert. He should start with his current professional group of contacts, and ask them if they know someone who knows something about the subject. It never ceases to amaze me how connected we all are, often just below the surface. Humpty can also use the Internet to do research on parachuting, hang-gliding, skydiving clubs, etc. to learn more about his proposed career option. Remember that in any networking scenario, it is critical to LISTEN in order to get as much information as possible, so ask questions, and then stay quiet.
Technology to the rescue
With today’s technology, it is easy to connect to the people who can help you - but you have to start somewhere.
If you haven’t joined one of the groups below, consider doing so. It’s easy, and can very quickly build your network of contacts.
- www.linkedin.ca - get started with the CatalystCareers.ca Professional Network Group
- www.facebook.com
- www.zoominfo.com
There are many others out there, but these are the most popular. You will soon get requests from colleagues, suppliers, and others, who can greatly enhance your network. Remember, start on or before February 3rd!
Good luck!
Mitchell Stephenson M.A., CPCC, is a senior partner and a certified professional career counsellor at Catalyst Careers, a career transition, counselling, and outplacement firm. Mitch has been involved in human resources, career counselling and coaching in the health and legal sectors for many years. To contact him, visit: www.catalystcareers.com.
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Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based
on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline
only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty,
express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or
in part within this article.
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