Networking Essentials
We sat over coffee and discussed his current state of affairs. He was going into his eighth month of employment and not sure why recruiters and human resource contacts were not calling him. He was definitely qualified for the positions he was applying, so why couldn’t he get a job, let alone an interview. I asked him, “Are you telling the people you know that you are currently looking for a job?”
“Well, not really.” He stated with his head hung.
I went into coach mode immediately and advised him to start broadcasting his current state to his family, friends (real-life and on Facebook!), and anyone else who would listen. I let him know, personally, I believe people generally have a desire to help others BUT, and it’s a big but, I like big buts and I cannot lie, they cannot help you if you don’t let them know how or with what.
Fast forward a few weeks from our meeting and a more upbeat and excited guy greeted me as I was setting up for my workout at CrossFit.
“I got a job!” He excitedly said.
“That’s awesome! Congratulations.” I replied. “How did you land it?”
“A friend.”
Friends. They are magical connectors of opportunity. Many things in our lives come by way of those we know or who they know.
Currently, I have two other clients on the job hunt and beyond the amazing resumes I’ve helped pull together and getting their LinkedIn profiles up to All-Star status, what is more important, is their network.
Three great ways to build your network with success contacts:
- Friends. You have your current friends, but what about their friends? Friends of friends are a gold mine when it comes to making connections and gaining referrals. Being only one step removed is an easy introduction to new world of potential contacts. Action Step: Set up a get together and ask your friends to bring one of their other friends you have not met yet. This mixer is a great way to network. Bonus: usually the people who you like will have friends you vibe with too!
- LinkedIn. I recently looked and I opened my LinkedIn account in 2007. Seems like just yesterday but in reality, social media has played a role in my network for almost a decade. LinkedIn is online networking for the business professional. It’s essentially your resume, hosted online, for everyone to see. The great thing about LinkedIn is the ability to search quickly for people who work at specific companies you may be trying to get in touch with. It will show you what degree of connection you are with that person. If you’ve been looking to get a foot in at a specific company, for a job or meeting, LinkedIn is the way to go! Action Step: Begin pumping up your connections by logging on to your account, clicking on “My Network” and then navigating to “People You May Know”. Spend a few minutes each week doing this and adding in the relevant connections. You never know when you may need them in the future OR how you may be able to help them too.
- Facebook Groups. Your personal Facebook feed may be full of kid pictures, political rants and other non-business building posts, however, you are missing out on the art of doing business on Facebook if you aren’t using groups. Facebook groups really started taking off last year and don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. I belong to some very strategic groups aimed at female entrepreneurs. By using my groups, I’ve secured coaching clients, received referrals, hired freelancers, and polled the group members with business questions and concepts I needed extra insights on. Facebook Groups are essentially online networking groups. They are a huge business resource you should be tapping into. Action Step: Ask your very active Facebook “friends” if they have any groups you should be involved with. Some groups are public, but many of the best groups are closed/by invitation only so you’ll need a contact to get in.
It doesn’t matter if you are selling yourself for a job or selling a product and service, the contacts you have are your biggest asset. These are the people who will help you connect, sell, win and succeed. Knowing this, I recommend you begin building your connections, you never know when you’ll need a little help from your friends.
About the Author
Hi! I’m Stephanie Melish, the Double-Tall, Non-Fat, No-Whip Sales Barista. I spent years working around the clock to make someone else’s dream a reality—that is, until I decided to take the scary and exciting leap into a dream of my own. Now I’m living the reality I want, and that means I get to spend every day helping my clients to achieve success, however they define it.
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About Stephanie
Hi! I’m Stephanie Melish, the Double-Tall, Non-Fat, No-Whip Sales Barista. I spent years working around the clock to make someone else’s dream a reality—that is, until I decided to take the scary and exciting leap into a dream of my own. Now I’m living the reality I want, and that means I get to spend every day helping my clients to achieve success, however they define it.
