The Power of Networking
By Carl Mueller
Networking is a skill that most people realize
they should be using to further their career
but don’t actually utilize regularly.
At the end of the day, introducing yourself
to new people whether they work in your industry
or not can not only help to expand your contacts
list, it helps to make you more comfortable
in social settings which can only improve
your ability to interview.
If public speaking is not your favorite
skill, don't worry. There are plenty of
options available that don't involve you
having to talk.
Here are some ideas to socially network
to further your career:
1. Join a networking group. Yes, they
exist! Look for industry or job-specific
groups that cater to people in your line
of work with the express purpose of putting
like-minded professionals in touch with
each other.
2. Look for seminars and conferences
that you can attend whether they are work
related or not. These are great opportunities
because they often set out time specifically
for networking as part of the event.
3. Try to meet people to speak with outside
your industry. Don’t just focus on your
own industry. Look for people who work
in related and even unrelated industries
to meet. At a minimum, you’ll get more
comfortable speaking in a social setting.
4. Trade business cards with people.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve
traded business cards with someone who
I figured I’d never bother contacting
but then ended up needing to speak with
in the future. Trading business cards
is a great way to expand your contact
list especially if you find yourself in
need of specific people to contact in
the future.
5. Look for ways to contribute what you
know to get your name out there and prove
your worth. One of the best ways to introduce
yourself to people is to teach them what
you know. Write articles on the Internet
or for an industry publication, offer
to teach a course or a class on your area
of expertise or become a mentor for someone.
When you give up your time and help others,
it gets noticed.
If you don’t feel comfortable with public
speaking, start slowly by looking for
opportunities that don’t involve you having
to talk much. To get more comfortable
with public speaking, consider joining
a Toastmasters club or other group that
can help make you more confident.
In the meantime, consider Internet-based
networking channels, attending seminars
and other opportunities to get you started.
Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur
and professional recruiter. Carl has helped
many job searchers find their dream career
and would like to help clear up some of
the job search myths that exist while
helping people avoid common mistakes that
cost them jobs.
Visit Carl's website to separate yourself
from other job searchers: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com
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