Networking is like dating

People love talking about themselves. The primary goal when you network is to connect with the other person on one thing that’s important to them. It doesn’t have to have anything to do with your outcome.

If you were seeking a spouse, you wouldn't approach a stranger and ask "Will you marry me?" Instead, you'd take the time to get to know the other person before moving ahead.

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You're Networking Wrong

medium.com

Key Ideas

Don't rush into it

When you try to network with people, you can't rush into it with an introduction, and then jump straight to the punchline. It has the potential to be unsuccessful.

The rules for networking are not the same as for business. In business, we are taught to focus on the outcomes we need. In networking, the focus is on the conversation.

Networking is like dating

If you were seeking a spouse, you wouldn't approach a stranger and ask "Will you marry me?" Instead, you'd take the time to get to know the other person before moving ahead.

Networking as a craft

Networking takes time to perfect. Network in a way that helps you achieve your outcome, and enables you to help the people in a way that's valuable to them.

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An introvert's advice for networking

ideas.ted.com

There are two particular things that most of us hate about having to network. One is its baldly transactional nature. In a Harvard Business Review article, this wry definition of networking was offered: "the unpleasant task of trading favors with strangers." The other is that needing to do it feels like a vulnerability.

Key Ideas

Practice networking everyday

The key to overcoming your fears about networking is to practice a little bit every day — and to do it when you don’t need specific help.

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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The Importance of Career Networking in Job Searching

thebalancecareers.com

The importance of career networking shouldn't be discounted when you are in the midst of a job search. Career networking should become a part of your daily work and career-related endeavors. Your career network should be in place for when you need it, both for job searching and for moving along the career ladder.

Key Ideas

Purpose of Career Networking

It involves using personal, professional, academic or familial contacts to assist with a job search, achieve career goals, or learn more about your field, or another field you'd like to work in....

Top 7 Networking Tips

Include the right people: anyone who can assist you with a career move
Know what your career network can do for you
Keep in touch - work your network: People are more willing to help when they know who you are
Give to get - what can you do for your career network
Keep track of your network:
make sure you know who is who, where they work, and how to get in touch.
Network online
Attend networking events.

7 Best Practices for Networking That Actually Work

inc.com

Your network is your net worth. When people think about networking, they imagine themselves walking around a big event, trying their best to be extroverted. They think about shaking hands and exchanging business cards, with the hope that sometime in the not-so-distant future an unbelievable opportunity will fall right into their lap.

Key Ideas

Make friends, not contacts

Friends do business with friends.

By no means is this a suggestion to go be one of those social climbers who pretends to make friends in the name of getting to the top. It's more ab...

Listening

One of the best networking hacks in the world.

People with knowledge tend to hold back what they know under the presumption that you aren't really interested in what they have to say. But if you listen and show not only your interest but your appreciation, they will share. They will share everything they know, and then some. So not only is this a learning opportunity for you, but it becomes one of the fastest ways to make friends and build an incredible network.

Ask for an introduction

Everybody knows someone. If you want to meet someone in particular, ask the people you know if they know anyone who knows the person--and then ask them to make an introduction.

At the end of the day, a warm lead is always better than a cold lead. If you can get in the door with some sort of referral, that will always be better than a cold email or phone call.

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