START NETWORKING: GETTING INVOLVED

True or false? Networking only works if you do it 24/7. Networking is only important if you’re looking for a job. Networking success happens overnight.

The answer to all of these questions is false. The truth is that networking is one of those activities that ends up being what you make of it. You can choose to rely only on “natural” networking – the kind that happens when you run into someone in a similar industry and have a brief chat about your skills and job; or you can become engaged and seek out opportunities to get involved and open yourself up to ongoing opportunities. Today the latter is the way to go. There are plenty of networking vehicles when you consider online networking in addition to the traditional in-person kind. It’s important to identify which networking methods are best for you and your goals. It’s also key to remember that it’s the long-term, steady networking that reaps the benefits. Networking success does not happen overnight. So, how do you get started and what makes networking successful?

The following three steps outline an organized way to start a successful networking plan:

1. Be ready. Regardless of whether you’re online or attending a networking event, make sure you are ready to share an “elevator pitch” about yourself. This can be a 15 to 30-second summary of what you do now and what you hope to do in the future. This is what many refer to as developing a personal brand. Remember, first impressions count – so be prepared to talk or write about yourself in an organized, succinct way.
   
   In addition, you should always keep your resume updated just in case you find yourself in a situation where someone would like you to send a copy. If you are starting again from scratch or haven’t updated it in a while, pulling all the information together can take days if not weeks.

2. Be organized. Write down all the people and/or companies with whom you have a relationship or want to get to know better. Remember to consider former colleagues, friends of friends, acquaintances from mutual organizations, etc. Based on the nature of the contact, you can decide whether it’s best to send them an e-mail, connect through a social networking Web site like LinkedIn or Facebook, send a written note or give them a call. Keep your list of contacts in one spot and write notes about who you’ve contacted, how you reached out, whether you connected, what transpired, etc. Then follow-up. Make sure you at the very least send a short e-mail to close the loop.

3. Be active. Just as important as making a list of contacts, make a list of places where you want to have a presence. Whether it’s through online venues or professional associations, make the commitment and then make yourself known. The worst thing you can do is set up a LinkedIn profile, for example, and then let it get outdated. Make sure you allot enough time to interact on the networking sites that you chose, as well as attend association meetings or functions.

The goal of networking is to be front-of-mind with key people when the right opportunities open up. With a little bit of well-executed time, networking can help you build your personal brand, get you on the recruiting short-list and ultimately yield big career results.