Networking is not a mere exchange of business cards at a cocktail party nor is it bragging about yourself or begging for help from people you barely know. According to most experts, networking is building relationships on the basis of trust that involves a give and take. Lynne Waymon, co-author of the book Make Your Contacts Count says, “It’s about teaching and giving. Teaching people who you are… and what kind of opportunities to send your way. And it is about giving — listening so generously that you can also help people accomplish their goals.”
Networking is not optional anymore; it is a crucial skill to master.
The Do’s and Dont’s of Networking:
| DO’S | DONT’S |
| Know your goal and have a strategy | Don’t wait until a crisis hits; network now |
| Be confident; find a role model or a mentor you can emulate | Don’t be a wallflower – make an effort to socialize with co-workers at events |
| Say thank you often and smile | Don’t ask for a job, ask for advice first |
| Brag about your skills. | Don’t be afraid to ask questions |
| Make a good first impression | Don’t shy away from exploring online networking groups like Ryze or LinkedIn |
| Follow up with a new contact as soon as you can | Don’t join tons of networking organizations; two or three may be enough |
| Send a Christmas or holiday card to re-establish contacts | Don’t put things on Facebook you wouldn’t want a new boss to see |
| Learn to listen attentively | |
| Gain trust and learn to trust, in order to build friendships |
To learn more, please read the article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/jobs_articles/2012/10/09/dbb7d628-121d-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.f3117e9f47e2
Published on September 28th, 2018Last updated on September 27th, 2018