JOB MARKET SKILLS: NETWORKINGIf you don’t know them, they won’t know you!

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WELCOME AND LOGISTICS

• Presenter – Jennifer Thibeaux, PhD (abd), SPHR• also known as “Dr. J”• President and founder of Primary Consulting LLC• Focus on Professional and Personal

Development

• Web Conference Seminar• Will be recorded• Feel free to ask questions throughout the

session• Recording will be made available at the end of

the session

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EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• Understand the dynamics of networking• Be ready to craft your networking plan• Know the tools necessary to prepare you

for networking• Leverage technology with your networking

efforts• Learn about the resources available in your

quest to grow your network

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WHAT IS NETWORKING?

• As defined by Merriam-Webster Online:• the exchange of information or services among

individuals, groups, or institutions ; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business

• Keywords• Exchange• Information• Cultivation• Productive

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THE FACTS ABOUT NETWORKING

• Approximately 70% of all jobs are found through networking

• Anyone you want to meet is 4-5 people away from you

(remember six degrees of separation)

• Most people have at least 250 contacts

• A referral generates 80% more results than a cold call

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WHO HAS IT BACKWARDS?

Job Seekers’ Strategies

AdsJob Listings & Want Ads

Private & State Employment Services

Targeted Job Search: Actively Applying Directly to

Employers of Interest

Promote Qualified Internal Candidates

Identify candidates informally through contacts, business associates, etc.

Recruit candidates from targeted professional

organizations & schools

Interview candidates who made unsolicited

applications

Employment Services

Career Fairs, Career Centers &

Prof. Orgs.

Contacts & Networking

Employers’ Recruitment Methods

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BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES OF NETWORKING

• People get to know you instead of judging an e-mail, paper resume, or contact business card• You get a chance to know people and

grow your network in the manner that makes sense for your career • You develop a network that can

partner with you in almost any situation in the future• Serendipity!

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EASIER SAID THAN DONE

• It takes communication• It takes forethought• You must have something to say –

“exchange”• Where do I find this network of people?• It may take you out of your comfort

zone

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NETWORKING TOOLBOX

• Contact card (or business card)• Make sure it is professional and sturdy

• Process for documenting your contacts• Every night I will upload all contact

information and send everyone an e-mail reconnecting the relationship

• Using technology to help organize contacts

• Have stories about yourself• What do you do?• Why do you do it?• What got you in to it?• Where are you going from here?

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CREATING THE NETWORKING MOMENTS

• They can happen almost anywhere, but they rarely happen in the comfort of your home• Look for corporate functions

• Ask the recruiter of the company if they will be participating in or hosting a networking or job fair event

• Join a professional organization• Some of the best networking is accomplished at regular

meetings and special events

• Use technology• LinkedIn for example has groups that regular schedule live

and virtual events to connect

• Keep talking• At the grocery store, bank, mall, etc. You would be surprised!

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USING TECHNOLOGY TO NETWORK

• LinkedIn• www.linkedin.com

• Facebook• www.facebook.com

• Twitter• www.twitter.com

• Your own website• Microsoft and other providers offer free services to

design and host a site

• You must visit each regularly• Make sure your contact information stays current

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HAVING SOMETHING TO SAY

• You have known yourself your entire life• Now it’s time to understand you• If you had to write a book, what would it be about?• We each have a story

• What’s your Personal Mission Statement?• The reason I get up in the morning is to do…

• What’s your Value Statement?• I am valuable to a company because…• I am valuable to my family because• I am valuable to my community because…

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PRACTICE YOUR “NETWORKING TALK”

• Look at yourself in the mirror and start telling your stories• Try it out on family members and

friends• Take it to the grocery story or when

you are in line• Networking talk improves over time• No magic formula other than working

at it

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GET CREATIVE!

• Visit the visitors and tourist bureau to find out what events are coming to your city• You may even be able to contact the group to

setup a formal connection prior to the event

• Organize your own happy hour or networking event• Make it virtual• Make it productive

• Start a blog• Volunteer to help at events that are

attended by people you want to get to know

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HAVE FUN WITH NETWORKING

• You never know who you will meet• Networking increases

opportunity• Opportunities to grow • Opportunities to experience• Opportunities with unique

friendships

• Building your networking is like securing insurance for the times ahead

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NETWORKING RESOURCES

• Technology• Online services

• Recommended Books• Click: Ten Truths for Building Extraordinary Relationships

by George Fraser• It's Who Knows You: Networking Your Way to Success by

Chien J. Wang• Truth or Delusion?: Busting Networking's Biggest Myths

by Ivan R. Misner• Who's Hiding in Your Address Book?: Introducing the Ideal

Network for Successful Women by Mary Kurak• The ABC's of Networking by Thom Singer

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SESSION SUMMARY

• “If you want to be prosperous for a year, grow grain. If you want to be prosperous for ten years, grow trees. If you want to be prosperous for a lifetime, grow people”

- Proverb

• You must understand the distinction between meeting people and inserting them into your network• You must grow with your network• Networking involves an exchange which implies you

being actively involved!

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ADDITIONAL CLASSES OFFERED

• Job Market Skills: Resume Basics• Job Market Skills: Interviewing Skills• Communication Skills 101• Emotional Intelligence Series• Personality Type Series• Career Development Series

• http://www.primaryconsultingllc.com • http://primaryconsultingllc.webex.com

JOB MARKET SKILLS: NETWORKINGIf you don’t know them, they won’t know you!

END OF SESSION