tially useful contacts. Be generous: always ... Have your business cards to hand (and a pen or an online App to capture
The I Am Guide to:
Networking for Career Success
The I Am Group is the leading ethical recruitment agency, putting people before profit. Visit www.iamenterprises.co.uk for more information
Why bother? People rarely enjoy networking, but it’s become a part of every-day life, and those who are best at it can sometimes network their way to promotions, new clients or even new jobs. If you aren’t very confident, lack the experience or don’t even know where to start, why not follow our easy guide to stress-free networking?
The Basics… If you find networking to be an uncomfortable experience, making disengaged small talk and handing out a few business cards to a room full of strangers, then the first thing you need to realise is that this is not the only type of networking. In reality, whenever we communicate with another person we are networking – at home or in our free time, and either virtually or face to face. However, since most people think of the above scenario in the context of networking, it’s probably easier to share our top tips on how to network successfully in a similar environment. Firstly, be prepared: think what you want to get out of a situation, event or relationship before you are in a face-toface meeting, since that way you’ll be focused and able to concentrate on whether or not you are talking to potentially useful contacts. Be generous: always start by offering something to someone you meet at a networking event. For instance, can you help with further introductions, offer advice or agree to help out in some way? The golden rule of networking is always to offer your support before asking for something for yourself. Make sure you practise your elevator pitch. It should be concise and focused and give the best possible impression of who you are and what you do in language that is easy to understand and remember. Bear in mind you might want different elevator pitches for prospective clients, employers or the general public. Have your business cards to hand (and a pen or an online App to capture details on your smart phone). Although networking events aren’t about handing out business cards randomly, you do need to be prepared to capture interest and follow up quickly (see below!) Be yourself: real networking is about being the best version of you! The old cliché that ‘people buy people’ really does work when you are at ease and come across as genuine. Plus, the more relaxed you are, the more productive your networking will become. Remember to be curious: asking questions of other people is a form of flattery, since it shows that you’re interested in what they’re saying, and you might learn something interesting or useful. Once you start connecting with someone, you’ll probably discover just how much you both have in common, which makes ‘doing business’ a lot easier.
Cover the ground: networking events are about making connections, some of whom may be immediately beneficial to you, but others may come back to you in months or years to come. As far as possible, try to work the room and don’t get stuck talking to the wrong people. Have a good exit strategy at the ready…just in case you need to save yourself from the person whom everybody else is trying to avoid! Finally, don’t forget to follow up. Explain how you’re going to follow up with people you meet at an event (i.e. an introduction to a useful contact, sharing a report, fixing a coffee, or connecting on LinkedIn) and do it immediately. The important thing is to stay in touch with people whom you’ve met - and this is where social media such as LinkedIn can really complement live events.
Final thoughts… If you’re still not convinced about some of the benefits of face-to-face networking, then perhaps the below might help sway you: True permission marketing: remember, everyone attending an event has opted to be there, and should therefore be open to making new connections. Face-to-face networking is a great way of building loyalty, since it starts with a meeting in person, and can lead to a quicker development of warm relationships. Face-to-face networking also provides a platform to test ideas or products and get immediate feedback, so that you can change the ideas or hypothesis several times during the course of an evening! Unlike social media, email or the telephone, you also get an opportunity to use all five senses to get your message across – perfect if you struggle with the concept of cold-calling! If you’d like to practise some of these tips, why not join the I Am Group on one of our Charity Networking evenings, which take place on the last Wednesday of every month. Visit http://iamenterprises.co.uk for more information.
