NETWORKING 102 ; NETWORKING TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

Osaretin Asowata, Bpharm 2002, Uniben, MBA 2011, Enugu, MWAPCp,2014

 Click here for NETWORKING 101; NETWORKING TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

Here is the concluding part on “NETWORKING TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS” by our coach Mr. Osaretin Asowata. It’s a detailed and highly enlightening presentation. Enjoy!

ROAD BLOCKS TO EFFECTIVE NETWORKING

• Fear
• Personality Types – note that you can modify your personality type. All skills are learnable including networking skills
• Unfamiliar Territory

GETTING STARTED

A great rule here is: he that wants friends must himself be friendly. So if you want to find people, you must be findable. If you want help, be helpable. If you  need a job, you must have the minimum requirements.

Network is a career catalyst, you still must provide the main substance of the reaction.

HELPFUL HINTS

•  Develop your personal ‘elevator speech’ or commercial
•  Practice with friends who can provide helpful feedback
•  Get a short and appropriate email address
•  Order resume cards with brief resume stats
•  Write and master a 30 seconds pitch( record & listen)
•  Build a LinkedIn profile and update it often – Add recommendations
•  Become active on LinkedIn groups
•  Sign up on Twitter – follow and people who follow you
•  Create an appropriate Facebook page
•  Ask for referrals when sharing business & resume cards
•  Join organizations & networks, chambers of commerce & business networks
•  Participate in discussion forums
•  Join professional organizations
•  Attend industry conferences
•  Attend Job Fairs
•  Join support groups
•  Volunteer your time and talents to worthy causes
•  Join a gym
•  Identify mentors and/or coaches
•  Schedule and conduct informational interviews
•  Utilize Alumni Associations and career offices
•  Follow up better than your competition
•  Send Thank You Notes as often as you’re helped.
• Above all your face book and twitter pages, please spend more time and effort building your LinkedIn profile. 

NETWORKING DO’S

•  Be genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships
•  Develop your goals for each networking meeting
•  Visit groups that spark your interest
•  Hold volunteer positions
•  Ask Open-Ended questions
•  Become known as a resource to others
•  Articulate what you are looking for & what you do
•  Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals
•  Understand the needs of the people you are networking with and offer some value to THEM
•  Try to contact one person per day
•  Go beyond your industry

NETWORKING DON’TS

•  Don’t fear the ‘big shots’
•  Don’t corner a ‘heavy-hitter’ with your personal life story at a social event
•  Don’t hand out business cards to everyone
•  Don’t only talk to people you know
•  Don’t waste time talking to self promoters
•  Don’t drink too much at evening events- obviously!
•  Don’t expect anything
•  Don’t dismiss anyone as irrelevant
•  Don’t take ‘NO’ personally

GOLDEN RULES OF NETWORKING

• Give before you get – bring something to the table
• Build it before you need it
• Never attempt to use people, they will know because they’ve been where you want to go
• Your network must be bigger than you.

Thank you.

Kindly drop your comments and questions in the comment section!

SEE YOU AT THE TOP!