Over the past few weeks I’ve given more thought to the idea of effective networking. I remember when I was just starting my career about 15 years ago, attending Chamber of Commerce events in Rochester, NY on behalf of the city’s orchestra. It felt very cliquish, & although I was young & representing a well known institution, I never really felt like I fit in. So I get that feeling that many people have when they walk into a room of people they don’t know. There are times today when I still get that feeling-that “nobody likes me, nobody cares what I have to say” squeamishness. Even me, who goes to like a gazillion of these things every month.But when I think about it, that’s how I am reacting to those around me. They have no reason NOT to like me. And as with any relationship, you’re only half of the equation. The person you’re trying to have a conversation with has their own issues, dramas, & fears who may be too nervous or shy to reach out to you. So it’s not always you-sometimes it’s them. Get over it.
As a jobseeker, you need to reach out to others for help. If you have a friend who is a hiring manager, encourage them to tell others about the jobs they’re looking to fill. The only way that networking will work is if people work together. The days are gone when we can sit in a little silo & mindlessly hit “send” on job applications on Monster.com.A way to start from your desk is to check out LinkedIn.com & really explore all of the options. First & foremost, people are on the site to be found & to help others. That’s the purpose. It’s not for passing movie recommendations, or sharing family vacation photos, it’s to keep up with your network of people you’ve worked with, & whom they have worked with, so it’s not an intrusion for you to search for people you know. You start by essentially putting your resume online as your profile. Then you want to connect to people you’ve worked with, friends, neighbors, classmates by sending them an invitation to connect. Chances are they’ll accept your invitation. If they don’t, then they’re not really “getting” the networking scene. Get over it, it’s them.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5589034
