TOP GUN Networking
Seek out networking opportunities in circles related to your function or industry of choice. Help yourself by first tying to find out as much as possible about those who will attend any given event. To use a phrase from the movie TOP GUN, seek those opportunities that may put you in to a "target rich environment." Where do your potential colleagues congregate? In this manner, you can be prepared to effectively network, knowing something about those that you may potentially meet.
Ultimately, striking up conversations and networking can be both easy and fun.
As you reach out to expand your personal contact network, you will undoubtedly be surprised by how many people are sympathetic to your cause because they themselves have been in your shoes recently, or at some time during their careers. They truly understand the value of effective networking.
In the context of career continuity, one should never feel that they are without a next contact to make. Many professionals don’t mind being approached about job opportunities at non-networking gatherings. They, themselves, have probably been through a transition recently,
Ask them what they do, where they work and how they like their role, The Pilot recommends... They will inevitably ask about you and then you can start talking about your agenda. Make them feel special and the focus of your attention and interest.
Indeed, job seekers shouldn’t focus all their time and effort at social events on making career or job hunting "pitches." Often people are turned off by the JOB seeking, networking "animals" who walk around handling out cards at gatherings. They might be better served to just talk about things that interest the other partiers themselves, get a sense of what excites them. Establishing a common ground, specifically any shared passions is a terrific springboard to more directed conversation later.
If the conversation has been engaging and there is some shared mutual interest, the effective networker will almost always get a 'YES" if he or she wants to follow up about career advice later.
Reciprocity, or making your personal contact network a two-way street, is key in these situations. If you meet someone at a social event who offers some assistance with your job search, it’s probably a good idea to ask, "What can I do for you?"… or offer some industry-related bit of information. This could involve sending over an article that was discussed or providing information that the contact might find useful. Always position yourself as a conduit of information. And the follow-up is equally as important as the initial contact.
TIPS: Your "rules of engagement" for making contacts in a non-networking setting:
...And when its time for transition to something new...
Bob Maher, CMF... The Careerpilot
Bob created his online presence, www.careerpilot.com, in 1994. He has over twenty years of successful experience in Corporate Recruitment, performance management and Career Management Services. He is an entrepreneur and innovator in the use of information technology in the recruitment and employment process. On the Founder's Council of the Association of Career Professionals - International and quite active in their Professional Development, Technology and Chapter Growth initiatives--a frequent speaker at industry conferences and seminars.