Hello! Nice to Meet You: Networking 101

Hello! Nice to Meet You:

Networking 101Dubuque Circles Initiative Leadership Track Series

What is NetworkingO “To socialize for professional or

personal gain.”O “A support system of sharing

information & services among individuals & groups having a common interest.”

Benefits of Networking

Why Is It Important?O Ultimately, it’s not about who you

know, but who knows youO Relationships are the catalyst for

successO Get “plugged in” to your communityO Seek new career opportunitiesO Develop knowledge resources

Going to a Networking Event

O Before You GoO Have a goalO Dress to impressO Bring business cards

O While You’re ThereO Make an effective introduction

The Elevator PitchO A quick way to communicate your

purpose, talents, and the mark you’d like to make on the world

O Aims to pique someone’s interest and entice them to learn more about you

O Absolutely no longer than 25-30 seconds or 8-10 sentences

How to Make an Elevator Pitch

O About YouO Smile and open with a hookO Tell who you are: describe you & your jobO Tell what you do & show enthusiasm

O What do You OfferO Tell what problems have solved or

contributions you have madeO Offer a vivid exampleO Tell why you are interested in your

listener

How to Make an Elevator Pitch

O What are the BenefitsO Tell what very special service, product

or solutions you can offer him or herO What are the advantages of working

with you? O How do you do It

O Give a concrete example showing your uniqueness

O Call for Action

Finetuning Your PitchO First write down all what comes up in

your mindO Cut the jargon and details; make

strong short and powerful sentencesO Connect the phrases to each otherO Memorize key points and practiceO What’s in it for the listener?O Create different versions for different

situations

At the EventO Listen First, Then SpeakO Show Sincerity and InterestO Get to the PointO Take Notes

For The Shy PeopleO Start smallO Tap into your primal instinctsO Be yourselfO Ask for introductionsO Be preparedO Follow upO Get over your fear of rejection

After the EventO Follow up!O Make sure to personalize each email,

mentioning something that you talked about

O Suggest any follow-up

Are You Networking Impaired?

O The formalistO Focuses too heavily on company’s official

hierarchy, missing informal connectionsO The overloaded manager

O Has so much contact with colleagues & external ties that they bottleneck to progress and burn out

O The disconnected expertO Sticks with people who keep them focused

on safe, existing competencies, rather than those who push them to build new skills

Are You Networking Impaired?

O The biased leaderO Relies on advisers much like themselves,

who reinforce their biasesO The superficial networker

O Engages in surface-level interaction with as many people as possible, mistakenly believing that a bigger network is better

O The chameleonO Changes interests, values, and

personality to match those of whatever

Online Networking: LinkedIn

O Have an eye-catching headlineO Discuss accomplishments in more

detail than on your resumeO Have an up-to-date work historyO By typo-free and proofread by a

friend or mentor