March 22, 2010

Networking effectively in today's market

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Article:	Networking effectively in today's market

By Christine Cruz, HR Consultant / Careers & Workplace Writer

Many of you attend networking events to meet other professionals in your industry and to market your talents and job skills. Others go to take advantage of free food and the free drinks. Either way, these networking events are necessary to enhance your career and professional network.

Here are some simple steps you can take to maximize your networking efforts at any professional or personal event:

1.) Prepare your business cards and elevator pitch

You will be meeting with professionals at the event who may become your future employer, client, or business partner. Prepare to give your contact information and a solid description of who you are, and what you offer.

How: Before the event have 25 - 30 business cards in hand. (If you don't have any, order them at VistaPrint.com.) Prepare your 30-second elevator speech to inform someone who you are, what your services are, what you are looking for and how you add value to that professional relationship.

2.) Get to know the group leaders / group organizers

Some networking events have hundreds of people attend, and only 1 or 2 hours for you to meet people. That makes it impossible to work the entire room without getting overwhelmed! So who would be the go-to-person(s) who knows most of the attendees? Who already has established relationships with others in the room? The group leaders and group organizers. Leverage and partnership is key.

How: Don't just walk past the organizers sitting at the front. They are valuable to the group and good people to get to know. Talk to them, get to know them. Then ask who the group leader is, and find them when they are not busy. Introduce yourself, tell them what value you could add to their group. Ask how you can help them. Get to know the group leader and stay in contact with them, so they will remember who you are and refer others to you.

3.) Stand by the food and drink table

If you are shy or intimidated by approaching new people, make them come to you. Standing by the food and drink table gives you the opportunity to approach people in a casual setting, and see what is happening at the event.

How: Stand by the food table, and observe the crowd. Who are the power players? Who sticks to their cliques? Plan who you want to strike up a conversation with. When someone new approaches for food or a drink, you can use that as an excuse to introduce yourself.

4. Take notes about each person on their business card

Carry a pen in your purse or pocket. After a networking event, you will have dozens of cards to take home and you will not remember everyone you talked to. You may have even promised to follow-up with a lead, introduce someone, or set a future coffee or lunch meeting. Take good notes after you speak to each person. That way you will go home later that night and remember who you need to introduce John to, or see the card months later and still remember what services Jane offered.

5.) Follow-up and stay in contact

Follow-up with every person you meet at an event, or the key contacts you feel you will have a mutually beneficial partnership with. Then stay in touch with each person to build and maintain that professional relationship.

How: Send a follow-up "It was nice to meet you" email within 72 hours of the event, and attach an article or information of value to them. Keep those business cards in a Rolodex, and put each person's contact information in your address book. Follow-up with each person every 3 or 4 months to "touch base", and continue to add value to that relationship.

Thanks to the networking event you attended, you have now gained additional professional contacts who you can help, and who can help you land your next gig.