Reflections on Professional Networking

Last night I went to a networking seminar (making business contacts, not connecting computers), and I gleaned some great tidbits.  Here is a summary of what was shared:

• Networking is a long-term process.  If you think of it as short-term, it will often seem worthless unless you are getting exactly what you want.
• Develop a lifestyle of networking.  That way, when you are in need of a job/client, they will often come looking for you if you have been continually networking.
• Think of networking as developing a give/take relationship.  Be willing to give help to people and be content with that.  It may come back to help you in the future.
• Get to know people’s backgrounds before you give them your pitch.  Tailor your pitch to what they need to hear…a memorized 30-second pitch is not for all occasions.
• Believe that you add value.  Instead of focusing on how you are too young/old/inexperienced/unqualified/etc., focus on what value you do add: fresh ideas/experience/transferable skills/values/ethic/etc.  Behavior follows belief.
• Remember that 60-70% of jobs are unpublished.  They are acquired by knowing people.
• The small talk of networking is big talk.  Just because it isn’t work related doesn’t mean that it isn’t important.  Is a golf game directly related to a business deal?  No, but it is relaxing and relationship-building.
• You should have a strategy for every marketing event.  For example, as a student, right now my strategy is to educate myself on the career paths that others have taken(primary), as well as find potential opportunities for work(secondary).

We were also given a list of significant questions to ask others as conversation pieces:

• Why do you network?
• What do you do at _________?
• What are you hoping to take away from your time here?
• I’m hoping to find a _________.  What can you suggest?
• What is the best thing about _________?
• What are your goals for next year?
• What are your outside of work passions?
• How did you spend your down time over the holidays?
• What do you love most about your work?
• What do you like to do when you’re not working?
• What has been your biggest challenge this year?
• How did you get interested in your line of work?
• How does someone in your field become a _________?
• What are some of the new developments going on in your field?
• How did you get started in the _________ business?
• How is your company different from the competition?
• What have you found to be the best way to promote your business?