| Deep down, whether we’d | | | | starts with your co-workers. Don’t be clueless, |
| like to admit it or not, networking is our best tool for | | | | you can’t hold down a conversation if you |
| job hunting. Allan Hoffman, a tech jobs, expert | | | | don’t know what you want. The same result |
| reminds us that we often land jobs through our | | | | will occur if you are unprepared. Get some business |
| colleagues and friends. If I stop and think about, | | | | cards. It looks good and it prevents you from not |
| even my high school job I got because had a friend | | | | having anything to transfer contact information |
| that got me in. Mr. Hoffman organized some | | | | with. Make sure you have an email address |
| networking tips for us to help keep our gears | | | | appropriate for business use. Try not to take up |
| greased and moving forward. There are suggestions | | | | too much of someone’s time. At an event |
| to do your networking in teams. You have moral | | | | everyone likes to mingle and people have there own |
| support to reach a goal and the motivation to get | | | | agenda’s beyond you. Treat network events |
| things done. I think this is a great idea and is | | | | as a preliminary interview and dress the part. You |
| something I would like to implement in the very near | | | | never know who you will run into. Be assertive and |
| future. Email lists are a good way to kick off your | | | | find a way to stand out but be careful not to be |
| network but be cautious to not spend too much time | | | | over the top. Always be honest, lying to get in |
| in front of your computer. Looking outside of the | | | | someone’s office might help at first but it will |
| box is important. Meeting people from church or | | | | catch up to you. Do not treat networking as a one |
| social clubs gives the advantage that the groups are | | | | night stand. Stay in touch because you never know |
| not filled with other techies looking for jobs. This | | | | where a relationship can take you down the road. |
| helps you feel less competitive about getting job | | | | Lastly, when you finally get ahead of the game, |
| leads because ultimately, networking is about building | | | | don’t forget that there are others that are in |
| relationships. Informational interviews are a concept I | | | | the same position you were once in. Lend a hand. |
| am not familiar with but they are designed to get | | | | This is just a summary, but I strongly encourage you |
| information about a company or industry and are | | | | to read the whole article at |
| usually successful in generating job leads or additional | | | | Mark Feffer is a journalist for I recently came |
| contacts. If you would like to read more about | | | | across one of his blogs that was perfect for people |
| networking go to Allan’s article at | | | | who are weary about networking. You don’t |
| If you guys have been following my articles you will | | | | have to be shy. Bottom line, breaking the ice with |
| want to tune into this. I recently came across an | | | | someone you barely know can be tough. The |
| article by Dan Woog, who is contributing writer to He | | | | power is in food, especially lunch. It provides a low |
| goes into detail about thirteen common errors that | | | | stress way of getting to know someone. Plus, you |
| affect our results of networking. First is waiting until | | | | can turn down a free meal anyways. Read the |
| you are unemployed before starting. Networking | | | | article. |