Building your professional network beyond the social media maze

BUILDIN

G YOUR P

ROFESSIO

NAL

NETWORK-B

EYOND T

HE SOCIA

L

MEDIA M

AZE

B Y JE N

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PAS T P

RE S I D

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F STC

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S E NI O

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BUILDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK FROM THE GROUND UP

Today we will learn how to:

• Create a professional network• Expand the network• Maintain the network• Feed the network • Harvest from the network

WHAT IS A NETWORK?

• Collection of collaborating colleagues?

• People who power your professional purpose?

• A power group of professionals, connected by various types of contacts, that work together to help each other?

• Dictionary.com: “an association of individuals having a common interest, formed to provide mutual assistance, helpful information, or the like”

Verb: “to cultivate people who can be helpful to one professionally, especially in finding employment or moving to a higher position.”

Find professional resources

PURPOSE OF A NETWORK

Hey Bill, I need a new tech student for my team. Do you

know anyone qualified?

LET’

S GET

START

ED

PU

LL

OU

T Y

OU

R P

AP

ER

1. List each professional or student position you have held in your field, including volunteer or society offices.

2. List the colleagues with whom you are currently in contact with for each position.

Note: Every colleague for these positions is important. Whether the person is a manager, a coworker, or a receptionist, they can be a valuable asset in your network.

WHERE TO START

Include social contacts too!

STOP!

3. Where would you like to see your career in 5 years?

4. List the people in your community who are close to that goal or have the power to help you reach it. (Link-ups)

Note: Do not be shy about who you list here! Include people you have never met in person, if needed. You have to reach high to climb that ladder!

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM

5. List Your Topics of Expertise

• Tools• Techniques• Topic expertise• Service

expertise• Contacts with

expertise

GET READY TO COOK

Hi Jacob, I need someone who specializes in doc conversion to

XML and fast. Do you know anyone?

6. List Your Current Methods of Exposure

• Email lists• Networking sites

(LinkedIn, etc.)• Professional forums• Networking meetings• Resume sites• Teaching workshops

or classes

Note: It’s important to make sure you are aware of every method of exposure you are using. Each one needs to be maintained regularly.

HOW ARE YOU NETWORKING?

ANY QUESTI

ONS ABOUT

THE LI

ST?

NE

XT :

BU

I LD

I NG

TH

E T

RE

E

NOW WHAT?

What do technical communicators do best?

Take uncoordinated bits of data and turn them into something

intelligible!

We’ll start with our people…

REACHING THE TOP

Position 1

Bill A

June J

KC

Jane C Jim G

Position 2

Amy L

Lance R

Terry K

Amy’s Manager

Vice Presiden

tAnkur G Bill C

What do you do if you don’t have a link?

Cold calling

Send an invitation to an event or lunch

COLD CALLING

NETWORK MAINTENANCE

• Interact regularly-on sites, in email, on the phone

• Regular chatter, answer questions, ask questions

• Regular updates that showcase your professional expertise

• Gather with local contacts regularly in person-meetings or lunches

NETWORKING SITES & RESOURCES

R E S O U R C E S T O U S E

• LinkedIn

• FaceBook? Really?

• Twitter

• Slideshare.net

• Your phone

NETWORKING LUNCH

T H E C O N T A C T Y O U K N O W

• Arrange regular lunches with local contacts

• Invite a large enough group that absences aren’t a problem

• Rotate who brings the main topic of discussion

• Rotate locations

T H E C O N T A C T Y O U D O N ’ T K N O W

• Invite them to a one-on-one with you or as a speaker to a group event such as a regular networking meeting

• Have questions ready about their work

• Always send a physical thank you note and email

• Follow up with a phone call to repeat with a one-on-one again

• Answer questions from contacts

• When someone needs a professional need filled, help them

• Post your professional needs to your contacts, particularly jobs

• Always say thank you

FEED THE NETWORK

Why are we in the network?

To harvest! Jobs, work, resources

When you are in need, contact your network first

A well-fed network will get to work for you.

HARVESTING FROM THE NETWORK

ANY QUESTI

ONS ABOUT

MAINTE

NANCE AND

FEEDIN

G THE N

ETWORK?

NE

XT :

AC

TI O

N P

L AN

ACTION PLAN

1. Build on your list of colleagues

2. Meet up with your contacts

3. Contact your link-up contacts that can help you reach your goals. Ask one or more of them to be your mentor.

4. Review all of your current methods of exposure for outdated information.

5. Get your name out with your expertise.

6. Start feeding the network!

CONTACT

Jenna Moore, Past President of STC Carolina

jtigerheart@gmail.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/techwriting

Twitter: jcpmoore

Slideshare.net:: jcpmoore