Networking for Results

Presented by Dr. Jane E. Henderson, Kaplan University

Getting Started

• Clarify your career goals• Create an “elevator pitch”

First Impressions

• You have around 15 seconds to make your first impression…

• 1993 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 64, No. 3)

What’s an “Elevator Pitch”?

• A concise description of: Who you are and what you doWhat you can deliverWhat you want

Your description must be short enough to be delivered in the time ittakes to ride an elevator with a stranger!

(Think about finding yourself alone in the elevator with the CEO of your company…Be prepared to sell yourself.)

Maintain Contacts—This is Critical!

• Regardless of how you build your network, it is critical you nurture it with regular attention. Situations change quickly!

• Organize your contacts and perform regular outreach—the time spent will yield results.

Web-Based Social Networking

• Friend-of-a-friend (FOAF) social networking sites are specifically designed to connect individuals and groups directly with others who share common interests and goals.

A typical FOAF network will display a directory of people or topics. When you find someone with similar interests, you can send them a message asking to be added to their contact list. This in turn allows you to meet other like-minded folks in that person's network, theoretically expanding your contacts more efficiently and quickly than you could in the real world. Your network grows exponentially with each person you add, and you can interact with others using tools such as public and private messages and discussion forums.

Linkedin.com

• Join the Linkedin online community• Eight million people, generally professionals, participate• Look up old acquaintances, decision makers, or others in your field• In partnership with Hoovers, a business intelligence site

Ryze

• Similar in concept to LinkedIn, Ryze also emphasizes professional and career-based networking. Ryze lets users join groups of like-minded people.

• Other features include the ability to add events, browse classified ads, and post job openings at your organization.

What’s a Broadcast Letter?

• Not a cover letter• This message goes out to your network announcing your desired

change and asks for suggestions/connections• “Dear Aunt Mary…..” • Do not assume the less obvious person cannot be helpful!

Become a Blogger

• About 70 million weblogs existed by mid-2005*• 16 percent of the population reads blogs*• More and more are creating “professional diaries” as opposed to the better-

known personal diaries• Joining a social network is just a few clicks away (For example, LiveJournal is

a simple-to-use communication tool that lets you express yourself and connect with friends online. Find me under the name “timner.”)

• Windows Live Spaces; Yahoo! 360• Or, create your own blog using Blogger

*Brad Hill, Blogging for Dummies

Happy Accidents!

• Networking is not always strategic—accidental meetings count! • Always be prepared—have your card. • Sometimes the person standing with you in the coffeehouse line is

someone you might want to meet—spontaneous connections.

Contact

• If you would like to discuss networking or any other career-related issues, please contact Career Resources at careercenter@kaplan.edu.