Practical Networking Tips

Crossroads Career WorkshopApril 21, 2007

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Session Overview

• Identifying Your Network

• You’ve Got a List, Now What?

• Networking Scenarios

• Questions & Answers

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Identifying Your Network

• Your contact list is the foundation of your networking

• Who do you know?

• Don’t edit – you never know who they may know

• Building your list: identify 25 -50 names today

• Memory Joggers

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Memory Joggers•Christmas Card Lists (Family, friends, neighbors)

•Co-workers or prior employers (current/former)

•Organizations you’re a member of like church, health club, etc

•Volunteer activities

•Parents of kids you know through your kids (school, teams, scouts, church)

•Hobbies (sports, book clubs, scrap booking, etc.)

•Your Check Book (who do you do business with?)

•Phone Book Exercise (who do you know that is an Accountant? Banker? Chef? … Zookeeper?)

•People who are in contact with lots of people daily: dry cleaner, barber, realtor, insurance agent, deliveries, accountant, etc.

•College Alumni Directory

•Industry Associations

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You’ve Got Your List…Now What?

• Think through your objective for contacting each person

• Ask for their time

• Come prepared

• Respect their time

• Ask questions & listen to their needs

• Respect their network

• Thank them and follow up

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Networking Scenarios

• Mistakes to Avoid

• Ideas to use

• Q&A Session