Networking

Networking does take some practice and hard work but here are some tips to get your started:

1)      Get Over Any Fear You Have of Talking to Someone You Don’t Know- I’ll admit to being shy and bashful when I was younger but what broke me out of that was putting any fear I had about talking to someone I had never met before and diving into a conversation. Push yourself if you have to and small talk at first can lead to a longer conversation. Some of the best ways to get someone to open up to is to ask questions about his or her life instead of giving them your own verbal autobiography. You don’t need to interrogate them like a member of the CIA would but asking about what they like to do, what their interests are, etc. can be a great ice breaker.

2)      Have Business Cards Made- I’ll admit that I looked at my dad as if he had two heads when he made these up for me right before I left for college. I didn’t quite see the importance of them until I started networking heavily in college. That little slip of paper was an easy way for someone to remember who I was, make the connection right away when I sent a follow up e-mail, and helped me stand out a bit. You can usually get free business cards from www.VistaPrint.com.

3)      Understand Where You Want to Go in Your Career and What You Want to Accomplish- If you know where you want to go in life and set specific goals along the way, the people you come in touch with will have a better understanding as to how they can help you. For example, if you are looking for an internship at a radio or television station, be specific about which department you want to intern in. If you want to work with an on-air anchor or talent, mention you are looking for an internship in programming. If you want to intern in promotions, mention you are looking for a promotions internship. The more specific you are, the better chances you will have of that contact being able to help you go in the right direction.

4)      Always Drop a Name Whenever You Reach Out to a Network Contact- If you are calling someone for the first time, chances are, that person will want to know how you obtained his or her name. Simply saying that “I obtained your name from Robert Taylor” (or whoever gave you his or her name) is all you have to say.

5)      Make Your Elevator Speech Short and Sweet and to the Point- When you reach out to a potential network contact for the first time by phone or by e-mail, make your pitch to the point and as sort as possible. That way, you are not keeping the person on the phone or in front of an e-mail for too long and make it easier for them to respond. For example, if you are reaching out to someone who could help you find a public relations internship at a big company, your elevator speech might sound something like this:

“Hello Joe, my name is Jeff Sabo and I obtained your name from Robert Taylor. He thought you would be a good person to talk to in regards to finding a public relations internship at a big-sized company in Columbus. I would welcome the opportunity to hear your advice on finding such a position and can be reached at (leave your phone number twice here) Thank you. “

6)      Be Respectful of Their Time- Whenever you talk to a network contact either by phone or in person, ask how much time they have to talk and keep track of that time. Keep in mind that person may have some other duties or meeting to attend to that day and keeping them past the amount of time they have will prevent them from accomplishing those tasks. Before the conversation begins, simply ask, “So I don’t keep you for too long, about how much time do you have at the moment?”

7)      Try to Get an Additional 3-5 Names from Each Network Contact- Sometimes you might not be able to get 3-5 names but always make sure you ask if there is anybody else that person knows that could help you get to where you want to go. That will open up more doors and opportunities down the line and help build your network.

8)      Always Send a Hand-Written Thank You Note or Thank You E-mail After the Meeting- You would be surprised as to how many people do NOT send some type of thank you to the person he or she just met with. If someone is taking time out of his or her day to meet with you, take the time to say thank you.

9)      Whenever a Guest Speaker Comes to Talk at Any Meeting, Take Time to Introduce Yourself at the End and Exchange a Business Card- I’ve met some of my best contacts by utilizing this and ended up with two internships as a result of taking a couple of minutes to introduce myself and say hello to the guest speaker after he or she was done talking. It’s surprising how many people don’t do this because this is a great way to meet someone face-to-face. Always mention someone the guest speaker talked about and exchange a business card with that person. Follow up that exchange with a quick e-mail. It shows you cared about what the person talked about and gives them a reason to offer additional help or advice in the future.

10)   If You Do Get a Call Back From Someone at an Inconvenient Time, Stay Calm and Offer to Reach Out Back to Them- It’s unavoidable but there will be an instance or two in which a network contact will return your phone call at a time in which you cannot talk to them at the moment. The best approach to handling the situation is to be calm, be polite, don’t sound rushed. Thank them for taking the time to call you and ask when you can call them back. Here are a couple of examples below:

“I want to thank you for calling me. I am tied up at the moment and cannot talk at this time. When can I give you a call back?”

“Thank you for taking the time to call me. I’m afraid I am in the middle of something else at the moment and don’t have time to speak with you. Can I call you back in about 15-20 minutes?”

“I would like to talk to you but am tied up at the moment. Is there a time either later today or tomorrow in which I can call you back?”

If you stay positive, are polite to others, and get help from others, you can achieve your goals and get to where you want to be.