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An Introvert's Guide to Networking
Introverts
Introverts tend to be reflective and have close relationships.
But it can be hard to be open and let strangers into your life. Small talk doesn’t come easy, and it’s hard work to establish rapport with new people.
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Key Ideas
Leverage Social Media
Social media is an incredibly powerful tool for personal branding.
- Your up-to-date profiles can tout your skills and accomplishments for you, without yo...
Focus on Relationships
Don't pressure yourself into thinking that you need to be the center of attention or speak with a large audience.
If you continue to build one meaningful relationship at a time with the people who actually matter to you, by setting up informal meetings or coffee dates, you'll actually end up with a stronger personal brand than those people who fly around networking events engaging in endless conversations about the weather.
Expand Your Qualifications
Expanding your skills and expertise is a surefire way to solidify and improve your personal brand.
Once you complete your extracurricular, make sure to post your new certification on your LinkedIn, your resume (if relevant) and your personal website to cash in on the branding payoff.
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Key Ideas
Practice networking everyday
If you do this when you’re not feeling needy, you wil...
Keeping in loose touch
You pop up now and again to your connections and acquaintances (old and new), without any obligation to follow up or see each other in person.
- It helps you to connect even with your weak or dormant ties, that will, in turn, be able to help you if you with what opportunities they have.
- You can connect via text or email, and you can take the time to compose thoughtful messages without being put on-the-spot.
The effect of loose touch
... is to put you into someone’s consciousness for a few minutes, and vice versa.
In cultivating loose-touch connections, know that your network won’t appear all at once; it takes steady, continuous work.
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Key Ideas
Attending conferences
But skipping them isn't the bes...
Change your mindset
See networking from a different perspective: You’re not just networking because you should; you’re doing it because it’s good for your career.
Pre-introduce yourself
Think about the people you would like to get to know and then carve out time to accomplish that goal:
- A few before the conference, make a 'priority wish list' of people you’d like to meet.
- Send those people an email introducing yourself and asking to meet; if possible, get an introduction from a mutual friend or colleague.