The Art of Networking

Do you hate networking events because they make your palms sweaty and your knees weak? People always tell me that networking is easy for me and that I'm a natural at it. I don't know if that's true or not, but I do enjoy it! Here are a few tips that I've learned from my own experiences. I hope you find them helpful, and I would love to hear your results if you decide to try them out!

· Listen! You want people to hear what you have to say, right? Think of it as earning “ear-time”. If you want them to lend an open ear, you must first earn their attention by giving them yours.

· Be enthusiastic! The biggest turn-on when meeting someone for the first time is their enthusiasm. Be a light bulb. As moths are attracted to light, so people are attracted to an upbeat, positive, enthusiasm. Talk to them about what they’re doing and show an interest. Don’t simply ask the routine, mundane questions everyone so commonly spouts off. Be original.

· Start dialogue. One of the best tricks to starting a good conversation is avoiding the pitfalls of the bad ones. Asking questions is always a good way to start a conversation. It shows that you have an interest in what the other person has to offer. The pitfall to avoid is asking questions that result in a dead-end conversation. How far can you go with, “Are you from here originally?” There can only be one of two answers: yes or no. Then what? You are left without any leads. Now you really have to stretch for something to talk about. Next time, try asking questions that lead to other questions. It’s like a game of chess. You need to be thinking four or five moves ahead. Ask yourself this question: “What question is my next question going to lead to?”

· Be relatable. There will be those times in a conversation that you feel like you have absolutely nothing to say on a certain topic. Chances are you actually do, but maybe you’re just too afraid to say it. Maybe the comment you’ve thought in your head would be a great conversation booster, but you think it would just sound silly. The truth is, unless your comment is potentially offensive, there really is nothing too silly or detrimental to say. Chances are, if you venture to say something that causes a stir, people are going to remember you. If what you say in a conversation does sound silly, people are likely to laugh, and everyone loves to laugh. Bonus! You’ve just scored extra points. Don’t stand around in a group second guessing everything you want to say. Just say it! The trick is to stop fearing what might possibly come out of your mouth.

· Follow-up. The next day, send out “nice to meet you” emails letting the people you met know that not only were you pleased to make their acquaintance, but you found them valuable enough to add to your email list. They will be delighted and will most likely reply with a “let’s get together for lunch or coffee” email. I did this after my last networking event and scored several business dates.

· Recap. In summary, the main points to keep in mind for successful networking are: attend the event, listen to what others have to say, show enthusiasm, engage others in dialogue and be relatable. Most importantly, show your interest in the people you made connections with by following up your meeting with a friendly email and invite them to get together for a non-committal lunch or coffee date. Start using some or all of these tools at your next opportunity and I think you will be very pleased with the results.

Unexpected Things Surprise Us Unexpectedly

Ding-dong! Your doorbell rings. “That must be my pizza delivery!” You grab your wallet and run excitedly to the door. A tall, attractive blonde is standing there smiling. She opens the hot bag, your mouth watering in anticipation. Suddenly, you stare wide-eyed at the end of a revolver. The girl smiles. “Give me your wallet.” She speaks calmly. And why not, she’s the one holding the gun. For a moment you can’t move. The shock of having your delivery turn hostile is still seeping into your brain. Slowly you extend her your wallet.

This event is far out of the every day. It is unexpected. Because most delivery drivers don’t go around robbing their customers, you would most likely be shocked if this were to happen to you. You would likely be surprised, shocked, maybe a bit scared. These are all feelings caused by the unexpectedness of the situation.

Just like this incident causes you to be surprised and alert, good writing causes us to be surprised and attentive. Chip and Dan Heath, authors of Made to Stick, encourage the use of unexpectedness in our writing to help make our message “sticky”.

“Stickiness” is a concept they use as their main theme in Made to Stick. It is the essence of getting our message to reside in people’s thought. It is how we get our reader’s attention and then keep that attention, while hopefully getting them to remember it after they’ve read it. I’ll admit, doing all that is not an easy task, but with the useful ideas in their book, Chip and Dan give us the necessary tools.

Please Say Thank You

In this competitive job market, my fellow job hunters and I need to consider every little detail that could aid, or hinder us, in our job search. Since my recent college graduation, I have been applying for jobs just about everywhere and after each interview I send a little thank you note to my interviewer. It is such a small detail, but it really goes a long way towards leaving a good taste in their mouth, and it helps them to remember you.

Whenever I have a job interview, I prepare to the max! I research the company, my interviewer, and everything else that may be relevant. If my interviewer has a blog, I read it. If they have a history, I find it. I go to each interview with enough knowledge that if they hired me on the spot, I would already be up to speed on company policy.

These are the little things that are too often overlooked by interviewees. Most people know they need to bring a resume to an interview. Most people realize that they should arrive in appropriate work attire for their chosen field, and most people know they should have an idea of the job they're applying for. But it's the little things that are frequently overlooked that can seriously make or break your next job opportunity.

Here are a few simple things you can do to greatly increase your chances of getting that job! First, do more than bring your resume. If you have a portfolio, bring leave-behinds. These are copies of your work that you can give to your interviewer so they can look back over it and remember you. Second, when you are researching your interviewer, try and find something that you have in common and connect with them on a personal level. This makes you more relatable, and again, helps you to stand out among other interviewees.

Last, and perhaps one of the most important details you can do, is to send a thank you card after the interview. You should send it as soon as possible. The same day is best. I recommend keeping a box of thank you notes and a few stamps on your desk. This is the easiest way to keep yourself from procrastinating. But even if you do forget and don't send the card for a week, still send one!

Keep the message simple yet appropriate. Tell the interviewer that you appreciate their time and consideration and that you were grateful for the opportunity to meet them even if they don't choose you. Basically, let them know that you're not a sore loser. Most of all, make sure to express your gratitude of their time and your excitement about getting the job. Excitement is key. If they don't think you care, then maybe they will hire someone who does.

In the end, it all comes down to common courtesy. People really appreciate the little gestures of gratitude, and they go a long way towards making a good impression. Just remember what our mothers always told us when we were little: please say thank you!

So They Say We Should All Be Bloggers...

As of today, I am one week and two days old. That is, if life really does begin after college!

Last Saturday was the best day of my life, so far. Surrounded by my loving family and close friends, I took the long, momentous walk down the aisle and received a blank folder. To be fair, it did have the University of Oregon's name printed on the front. But as we have all heard many times, we must not judge a folder by its cover. Anyway, it was not the folder that I was excited about, it was the diploma that I have been checking my mailbox for every day since.

Seriously though, everyone who knows me knows what a thrilling occasion it was for me. After five long years, working nights as a delivery driver and nearly killing myself with homework, I finally achieved a much-anticipated graduation!

Now, as a young public relations professional, I felt that it was the perfect time to begin my first, real professional blog. So here it is! It is going to be a way for my family and friends to find out what it is that I do all day at work. I will write about things I'm doing, things I'm learning, and tips for other young professionals. My promise to you, dear reader, is to post a new blog every Tuesday, and more often as time allows. This blog is a reflection of me and my interests, and I will be ultimately flattered if you come back and visit me often!