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Making networking a daily task leads to career success
by Polly Schneider Traylor | More from Polly Schneider Traylor | Published: 5/14/03
Keywords: Workplace | Human resources
Rating: 4.4 (out of 5) Rate it Comments: 8 | 0 NEW | View all
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Takeaway:
Whether you're looking for a new job or not, every day should include some career networking effort. Career experts offer a wide range of tips on how to incorporate critical networking efforts.
It’s tempting to procrastinate when it comes to career networking, but procrastination, especially in job market slowdowns, can hurt job seekers more than they realize. Experts warn that the employment tide will change at some point, and you should be actively networking to take advantage of opportunities.
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"Don't wait until you need to network to start networking," advised Matthew Moran, an IT career coach and author of The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit. And once you start networking, don’t quit.
"For IT people, it is essential to keep the network going," said Beverly Kaye, a career coach and author in Scranton, PA. Consistent networking takes diligence, patience, and a will to incorporate networking into everyday life.
Keep eyes open for networking opportunities
Realize that you need to network all the time, regardless of your employment status. Moran, an admitted extrovert, introduces himself to strangers at coffee shops near his home in Scottsdale, AZ, and stays in touch with virtually everyone he has ever met on a regular basis—including his manager at the McDonald's where he worked as a teenager. "I view professional networking as the single most important skill in career development," he explained.
Don’t make the mistake of relying just on industry events for networking. Experts who were interviewed all agreed that attending large general trade shows, cold-calling companies, responding to ads on online job boards, and sending your resume to the HR department are all a waste of time.
Instead, focus on meeting people who could further your career, and develop relationships over time. Adam Charlson, a senior partner with Korn/Ferry International, recruits sales and marketing professionals for software companies in Silicon Valley. He said that, in most cases, cold-calling is not necessary if you explore your own contacts deeply enough. "You can always find someone who can give you an introduction to the right person," he said.
Expand horizons
You may need to move out of your comfort zone—like Moran, who moved to Scottsdale from the Los Angeles area. Moran walked into 30 companies and asked to speak with the IT manager, resume in hand. He received plenty of rejections but managed to meet with a few VIPs. He wound up with some valuable networking contacts.
Moran isn’t likely the norm in the IT world. Few IT professionals feel comfortable acting as their own personal skills salespeople, and they seldom have the nerve to waltz into companies without an appointment or approach complete strangers and make small talk over a no-foam double latte.
But thanks to e-mail, you can make a lot of headway using some simple contact database organization skills. For example, Moran uses Microsoft Outlook to track and categorize all of his contacts into separate folders, such as Client, Vendor, or Friend. Here are some tips he shared on his networking organization approach:
* He keeps a folder called Next Contact for people he wants to get in touch with over the next month.
* He drags important e-mails requiring a response into a folder called Immediate Follow-up.
* Whenever he has a few spare minutes during the day, he sends out a blanket e-mail message with a quick rundown on what he's been up to, personalized slightly for each individual.
* He always asks his contacts for their latest news.
"People like to know that you know they exist," he observed. In Moran's view, people who are used to hearing from you regularly are more receptive to hearing your marketing pitch.
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