Sometimes you’ve got to out there and pound the pavement right?! I am a regular contributor to the National Contract Managers Association’s student newsletter “Students Connect.” Here’s one of my recent short articles on Networking Skills below…and here’s the direct link to the article.
A Few Networking Tips for Beginners – Networking is still a great way to find a job. Resumes from referrals tend to land on the top of the applications pile and are typically reviewed first. Here are some quick tips for networking in a group or one on one:
- Get clear: Get clear on what you’re looking for. What kind of job or opportunity do you want? Keep it short and sweet so you can communicate it easily.
- Tell everyone you’re looking: This includes friends, family, fellow students—even professors. You never know who might know someone in the field you’re interested in.
- Don’t be shy: Ask for the referral. People are usually happy to help and the worst they can say is no. Remember… nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- Follow-up: Follow-up with the referral offered and the person who provided it. Send a hand-written thank you note to the person who helped you.
- And most importantly, be yourself!
I hope this is helpful. Contact me if you want more help with this. Good luck! Hallie Career Coach Hallie Crawford