how to network with anybody
TRANSCRIPT
HOW TO NETWORK WITH ANYBODY
B E N E F I T S O F N E T W O R K I N G
WHY SHOULD I NETWORK WITH
PEOPLE?
DO FOR ME?
W H AT D O E S N E T W O R K I N G
REFERRALS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND REQUESTS FOR YOUR SERVICE OR PRODUCT
Well, when done right, networking
will open you up to opportunities like
Routinely pushing yourself to talk to people you don’t know also increases your
CONFIDENCE
IDEAS AND KNOWLEDGE
Networking can be great for sharing
You’re not just gaining exposure to the people you meet, you’re also building connections with their network, too. If you’ve made an impression,
you’ll probably get a referral
GETTING STARTED
SO WHY IS NETWORKING SO HARD?
Because the most challenging part of networking is
STARTING AND ENDING A CONVERSATION
To help, here are some ways to
BREAK THE ICE
OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS
spur interesting conversations so use this to prepare some ‘icebreakers’.
Most people love to talk about
THEMSELVES, THEIR WORK AND THEIR HOBBIESAsk them questions like, “How long have you been a member here?” or “What’s your favorite part of your job?”
Set a minimum time limit for yourself.
When you decide ahead of time how long you’ll stay at an event, it makes the commitment much less intimidating.
Give yourself a minimum of 20 minutes to get your nametag, grab a drink and meet at least one new person.
Often, all you need is a few minutes to adjust to the environment. You may be surprised at how often you’ll stay longer than you planned.
If there’s a particular person you’d like to meet, try to find someone that knows them and request their help being introduced.
Ask for an intro.
makes finding introductions easy —and if that doesn’t work, approach the event’s host. You’ll get a lot further with an introduction from a friend than approaching someone out of the blue.
HOW TO EXIT GRACEFULLY
HERE’S HOW TO LEAVE THEM WANTING MORE.
Now that you’re talking to someone, you’ll want to
leave the conversation on a positive note before it
awkwardly peters out.
Suggest you’ll meet again: “I’d like to chat with you more about this. Why don’t we grab a coffee some time?” By offering to meet again, the person you’re talking to won’t be offended by ending the conversation.
is the perfect way to say, “I’m interested in talking again, but our time right now has come to an end.”
“Do you have a business card?”
If you know a fair number of people at the event, ask what
the other person hopes to achieve, and offer to introduce
them to someone who could help make that happen.
Moving a conversation is a
nice way to complete it. Better yet, ask the person to
INTRODUCE YOU TO
SOMEONE
USE IT EFFECTIVELY
M A K E S U R E Y O U H AV E L I N K E D I N A N D
THE RIGHT TIME
Having a professional, eye-catching LinkedIn
profile can help you be found by the right
people at
Start with a professional photo. Go with the cleanest, most professional looking snapshot you have.
That photo may be your first impression with a potential employer.
REMEMBER TO SMILE
Fill out as much of your profile as possible. When making your profile, remember who your
audience is. With each statement you write consider both who you’re hoping will read it,
and what you’re hoping they’ll
TAKE AWAY FROM IT
Ask forrecommendations
Reach out to people you’ve worked with, or peers in your profession and ask that they write you a recommendation.
One example of a great LinkedIn profile is that of Lindsay MacIntosh
NETWORKING IS A 5-10 JOB
OUTSIDE OF WORK HOURS
Networking is a 5-10 job, meaning it usually happens
Cape Breton Road Runners cbroadrunners.ca Sydney Curling Club sydneycurlingclub.ca Velo Cape Breton Cycling Club velocapebreton.ca Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design capebretoncraft.com Sydney Sunrise Rotary Club sydneysunriserotary.com
to expand your chances of meeting someone who knows someone in a more casual setting. Some great clubs in Sydney, NS include:
Join clubs
Not all networking happens in person. Use your personal and professional connections online to expand your network and connect with new individuals.
Be active on social media
Write about the events you go to and business topics that are relevant to yourself and your goals. Show you’re an expert at what you do.
Make a blog for yourself or your business
BE PREPAREDW H E N G O I N G T O A N E V E N T O R C O N F E R E N C E
SET A GOAL FOR YOURSELF
Think about what you want to achieve at this event and what types
of connections you want to make.
Try to find out in advance who will be attending.
before the event if you can.
REVIEW THE RSVP LIST
Be ready with an interesting self-synopsis that focuses on your experience and interests.
Try to include hobbies and avoid making it sound like a laundry list of ‘why I’m great’.
Practice your “30-second” introduction
about the event’s topics, or about current events that might be relevant.
Prepare some questions or comments
It helps people that struggle to remember names, and makes it easier to spell when searching for you on LinkedIn.
Wear a nametag if it’s appropriate
Bring plenty of business cards and a pen, and have them
EASILY ACCESSIBLE
Check with the event organizer or online for the dress code. When it doubt, it’s safer to go with business attire.
Set yourself apart in how you dress:
FOLLOW UP
ALWAYS FOLLOW UP
with individuals you met from a networking event.
telling them you enjoyed meeting them. If you can, reference something the two of you talked about or a shared interest.
Send an email or LinkedIn message
If you hit it off with someone and they live locally, suggest an
for a follow-up talk.
IN-PERSON GET-TOGETHER
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Remember that the hardest part of networking is getting started. Download this slideshare and come back to it any time you need some inspiration to get started.
For information on the latest events and
conferenceshappening in Membertou, visit destinationmembertou.com
Also find us on twitter
and facebook.