Whether you\u2019re looking for a new job or your next consulting gig or need to expand your professional reach, it is crucial to invest your time networking with those you know and haven\u2019t yet met.\u00a0 Every new job, consulting project, or client I\u2019ve ever landed came through someone I already knew or was introduced to.\u00a0 And like many, I\u2019ve wasted countless hours sending resumes with carefully written cover letters in response to posted jobs\u2014not once did these exercises prove fruitful.\u00a0 Sound familiar?\u00a0 Too often you\u2019re sending your credentials into the big black hole with dozens if not hundreds of others only to get frustrated by not even receiving a \u201cthank you\u201d note in return.<\/p>\n
Your time will best be spent leveraging your connections to find those unpublished positions and opportunities\u2026 or you can work with others to create your own opportunities.\u00a0 You might be surprised at how eager people are to lend a helping hand.\u00a0 Here are some must-do action items to kick-off your networking initiative:<\/p>\n
Never Be Without Business Cards.<\/strong>\u00a0 And I don\u2019t mean ones that you print on your home printer.\u00a0 Get some high quality business cards. \u00a0Personally speaking, I\u2019m less than impressed by someone who hands to me a flimsy, homemade business card on which you can still see the perforation chards.\u00a0 And if you don\u2019t have a job, consider including your name, contact details, and a few lines about your expertise and specialty areas.<\/p>\n Never Leave Home Without Them.<\/strong>\u00a0 Once you have your crisp new cards, never leave home without them\u2014you never know when you\u2019ll meet someone with whom you\u2019d like to follow up.\u00a0 I\u2019ve made some great contacts in the darnedest places!\u00a0 One of my favorite clients developed from a chance chit-chat on the chairlift at a ski resort all because I had a strategically placed business card in my ski jacket pocket.<\/p>\n Leverage Social Media.<\/strong>\u00a0 The number of social media outlets are too numerous to count these days and yes, this gets overwhelming.\u00a0 If you\u2019re not already connecting online, select one or two outlets and get involved.\u00a0 Don\u2019t just sit back and spectate\u2014contribute to the online community.\u00a0 Post relevant articles and valuable comments for the groups you join.\u00a0 For me, I like to keep my personal and professional contacts separate so I reserve LinkedIn for business relationships and Facebook for personal ones.\u00a0 Once your profile is live, keep it up-to-date, and leverage others in your network for introductions.<\/p>\n Give to Get.<\/strong>\u00a0 Pay it forward.\u00a0 Before asking for help from someone, ask if there\u2019s anything you can do to help them without expecting anything in return.\u00a0 By giving things away, be it time, information, introductions, or other assistance, you lay the foundation for others to want to reciprocate.<\/p>\n Volunteer<\/strong>.\u00a0 Along the same lines, don\u2019t underestimate the relationships you can develop through your charitable acts.\u00a0 You never know who you might meet.\u00a0 As an added bonus, you can include your accomplishments on your online profile(s) and resume if appropriate.<\/p>\n Network Strategically.<\/strong> \u00a0Every day of the week, there is a meeting, workshop, networking event, or gathering of some sort where you can meet and network with others.\u00a0 We can\u2019t possibly go to more than a handful of them as it gets costly and time consuming.\u00a0 Be choosey about where you invest your time and dollars.\u00a0 Try out several of them and then ask yourself where you\u2019ll most likely meet the type of people you really need to know and then focus on that limited number and get involved in those groups.<\/p>\n