Don’t Just Sit There, Make The Connection
In yesterday’s article, Know Your Value, Get Hired: 3 Essential Ingredients for Job Search Success, I mentioned that the purpose of networking is to connect. I wonder if the thought went through your mind, “Duh, Angela, I know that the purpose of networking is to connect.”
Whether or not this thought crossed your mind, I have more to say on this topic…
You know, as well as I, that you can go to an event in a room filled with people and leave without making any connections. I know because I’ve observed it for many years. And until I became a savvy networker, I used to do it too!
The Scene: You sit at a round table with 7 other strangers at a professional luncheon. You and the people at your table hardly make eye contact as you busy yourselves with eating, maybe politely asking someone to pass the salt. The presentation starts, and you are somewhat relieved because now it would be rude to engage in conversation with these strangers who have been thrust together elbow to elbow. As soon as the presentation is over, you politely nod to the others and scatter like quail in tall grass during hunting season. Whew, so glad that networking stuff is over, right?
Alternate Scene: Every single time you go to these events, you only sit with the people you know. (By the way, if you are gravitating to the same group of people all the time, use this to your advantage. Test the quality and effectiveness of your message by asking them to tell what they know about what you do and stand for.) Don’t get me wrong, it’s perfectly fine to reconnect with your buddies, but I urge you to connect with new people.
Hey, you never know if the person who passed you the salt might know of a great resource to suggest. That person might have just the information you’ve been looking for. Don’t let possible golden opportunities get away from you. Don’t just sit there, make the connection!
Angela Loëb is an author, speaker and co-owner of Great Occupations. She and her partner, Jay Markunas, help people make successful career transitions through workshops, webclasses, personalized coaching sessions, as well as through The Job Search Boot Camp Show. Find out more at www.greatoccupations.com.