How To Network With Anybody

HOW TO NETWORK WITH ANYBODY

B E N E F I T S O F N E T W O R K I N G

WHY SHOULD I NETWORK WITH

PEOPLE?

DO FOR ME?

W H AT D O E S N E T W O R K I N G

REFERRALS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND REQUESTS FOR YOUR SERVICE OR PRODUCT

Well, when done right, networking

will open you up to opportunities like

Routinely pushing yourself to talk to people you don’t know also increases your

CONFIDENCE

IDEAS AND KNOWLEDGE

Networking can be great for sharing

You’re not just gaining exposure to the people you meet, you’re also building connections with their network, too. If you’ve made an impression,

you’ll probably get a referral

GETTING STARTED

SO WHY IS NETWORKING SO HARD?

Because the most challenging part of networking is

STARTING AND ENDING A CONVERSATION

To help, here are some ways to

BREAK THE ICE

OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS

spur interesting conversations so use this to prepare some ‘icebreakers’.

Most people love to talk about

THEMSELVES, THEIR WORK AND THEIR HOBBIESAsk them questions like, “How long have you been a member here?” or “What’s your favorite part of your job?”

Set a minimum time limit for yourself.

When you decide ahead of time how long you’ll stay at an event, it makes the commitment much less intimidating.

Give yourself a minimum of 20 minutes to get your nametag, grab a drink and meet at least one new person.

Often, all you need is a few minutes to adjust to the environment. You may be surprised at how often you’ll stay longer than you planned.

If there’s a particular person you’d like to meet, try to find someone that knows them and request their help being introduced.

Ask for an intro.

makes finding introductions easy —and if that doesn’t work, approach the event’s host. You’ll get a lot further with an introduction from a friend than approaching someone out of the blue.

LINKEDIN

HOW TO EXIT GRACEFULLY

HERE’S HOW TO LEAVE THEM WANTING MORE.

Now that you’re talking to someone, you’ll want to

leave the conversation on a positive note before it

awkwardly peters out.

Suggest you’ll meet again: “I’d like to chat with you more about this. Why don’t we grab a coffee some time?” By offering to meet again, the person you’re talking to won’t be offended by ending the conversation.

is the perfect way to say, “I’m interested in talking again, but our time right now has come to an end.”

“Do you have a business card?”

If you know a fair number of people at the event, ask what

the other person hopes to achieve, and offer to introduce

them to someone who could help make that happen.

Moving a conversation is a

nice way to complete it. Better yet, ask the person to

INTRODUCE YOU TO

SOMEONE

USE IT EFFECTIVELY

M A K E S U R E Y O U H AV E L I N K E D I N A N D

THE RIGHT TIME

Having a professional, eye-catching LinkedIn

profile can help you be found by the right

people at

Start with a professional photo. Go with the cleanest, most professional looking snapshot you have.

That photo may be your first impression with a potential employer.

REMEMBER TO SMILE

Fill out as much of your profile as possible. When making your profile, remember who your

audience is. With each statement you write consider both who you’re hoping will read it,

and what you’re hoping they’ll

TAKE AWAY FROM IT

Ask forrecommendations

Reach out to people you’ve worked with, or peers in your profession and ask that they write you a recommendation.

One example of a great LinkedIn profile is that of Lindsay MacIntosh

NETWORKING IS A 5-10 JOB

OUTSIDE OF WORK HOURS

Networking is a 5-10 job, meaning it usually happens

Cape Breton Road Runners cbroadrunners.ca Sydney Curling Club sydneycurlingclub.ca Velo Cape Breton Cycling Club velocapebreton.ca Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design capebretoncraft.com Sydney Sunrise Rotary Club sydneysunriserotary.com

to expand your chances of meeting someone who knows someone in a more casual setting. Some great clubs in Sydney, NS include:

Join clubs

Not all networking happens in person. Use your personal and professional connections online to expand your network and connect with new individuals.

Be active on social media

Write about the events you go to and business topics that are relevant to yourself and your goals. Show you’re an expert at what you do.

Make a blog for yourself or your business

BE PREPAREDW H E N G O I N G T O A N E V E N T O R C O N F E R E N C E

SET A GOAL FOR YOURSELF

Think about what you want to achieve at this event and what types

of connections you want to make.

Try to find out in advance who will be attending.

before the event if you can.

REVIEW THE RSVP LIST

Be ready with an interesting self-synopsis that focuses on your experience and interests.

Try to include hobbies and avoid making it sound like a laundry list of ‘why I’m great’.

Practice your “30-second” introduction

about the event’s topics, or about current events that might be relevant.

Prepare some questions or comments

It helps people that struggle to remember names, and makes it easier to spell when searching for you on LinkedIn.

Wear a nametag if it’s appropriate

Bring plenty of business cards and a pen, and have them

EASILY ACCESSIBLE

Check with the event organizer or online for the dress code. When it doubt, it’s safer to go with business attire.

Set yourself apart in how you dress:

FOLLOW UP

ALWAYS FOLLOW UP

with individuals you met from a networking event.

telling them you enjoyed meeting them. If you can, reference something the two of you talked about or a shared interest.

Send an email or LinkedIn message

If you hit it off with someone and they live locally, suggest an

for a follow-up talk.

IN-PERSON GET-TOGETHER

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Remember that the hardest part of networking is getting started. Download this slideshare and come back to it any time you need some inspiration to get started.

For information on the latest events and

conferenceshappening in Membertou, visit destinationmembertou.com

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