Successful Networking

3. What is Networking?Many career changers know that networking is something they should be doing, but they still ask – what is networking?Anyone offering career changing advice will tell you that it is probably one of themost essential tools in your career planning strategy.MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 20113

4. Networking Definition…‘A process where you develop long term relationships with others for mutual benefit.’MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 20114‘A process where you develop long term relationships with others for mutual benefit.’

5. Networking..It is not about finding a quick fix to your career change and job search problems. Networking is about building relationships, not just filling an address book with as many names and numbers as possible. It is a two-way process where you make contacts that may be beneficial to you, but where you also offer information and assistance in return.Do not expect to get the magic answer to your career change questions at a single meeting. 5MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

6. Networking. How can it help you?It can serve many purposes, including enabling you to:Research career ideas

7. Identify new possible career paths

8. Understand more about particular occupational areas

9. Learn from the experience of others

10. Build up a team of people who can support you in the career change process

11. Identify particular people who can act as mentor for you

13. Networking. How can it help you?Create a pool of relevant contacts who know, trust and respect you

14. Explore or market self employed business opportunities you are developing

15. Develop your soft skills e.g. communication, listening.

16. For anyone considering a job change, career networking can be invaluable whether you are at the early exploratory stages or at the point of seeking specific job opportunities.MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 20117

17. Networking.. When & where can you do it?Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere! But having said that, there are two approaches that are particularly relevant to career changers:Meeting with people on a 1-1 basis to ask for specific information.

18. Meeting people at group events where you are less likely to know who you may encounter.Both of these can just happen informally or they may be set up intentionally by you. 8MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

19. Networking.. When & where can you do it?Networking know- how suggests that you should:Develop a mindset that enables you to take advantage of casual meetings that happen unexpectedly. You never know when you might meet someone who could give you just the lead you need to move the career change process forward.

21. Networking.. How to develop your strategyHave a clear purpose to your networking. Who do you want to meet, what do you want to learn & why? Research where you are likely to meet people who could help you.

22. Reflect on what you have to give. Who & what do you know that may help others? Remember that networking is about mutual benefits.

24. Networking.. How to develop your strategySet yourself targets of a set number of new contacts you will make each week or month.

25. Write a networking letter to arrange informational interviews with some of your new contacts. You should also plan regular follow-ups with existing contacts.

26. Keep accurate records of your contacts. Not just name, phone and email address but details of where you met them, what is relevant about them for you, how they might help, what you offered to do for them and when you last contacted them.11MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

27. Networking.. What are the key skills needed?There are many skills that will make you an effective networker. Here are some of the most important ones:Listening skills.

28. Awareness of body language.

29. Able to present yourself positively.

30. Good questioning.

32. Networking.. What are the key skills needed?Able to build rapport.

33. Genuine interest in others.

34. Willingness to offer help as well as seek it out.

35. Ability to adapt your approach according to the person and situation.

36. Confidence without arrogance.

37. Willingness to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

39. Networking.. If you think of yourself as an introvert or you feel awkward talking to strangers, don’t panic. Networking is not just for the extroverts amongst us. You may prefer to do more 1-1 networking or when in groups, focus your attention on asking questions to get others talking first.However, remember that networking is a great opportunity for you to develop, so try to push the boundaries of your comfort zone by taking small but manageable risks with your networking from time to time.14MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

42. Social MediaSocial media are media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable communication techniques. The term refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue.Businesses may also refer to social media as Consumer-GeneratedMedia (CGM). A common thread running through all definitions of social media is a blending of technology and social interaction for the co-creation of value.17MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

45. The differences between social media and social networking are just about as vast as night and day. There are some key differences and knowing what they are can help you gain a better understanding on how to leverage them for your brand and business.Social Media and Social Networking20MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

46. By Any Definition Social Media Social NetworkingSocial media is a way to transmit, or share information with a broad audience. Everyone has the opportunity to create and distribute. All you really need is an internet connection and you're off to the races.Social networking is an act of engagement. Groups of people with common interests, or like-minds, associate together on social networking sites and build relationships through community.21MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

47. Communication Style Social Media Social NetworkingSocial media is more akin to a communication channel. It's a format that delivers a message. Like television, radio or newspaper, social media isn't a location that you visit. Social media is simply a system that disseminates information ‘to' others.Social networking, communication is two-way. Depending on the topic, subject matter or atmosphere, people congregate to join others with similar experiences and backgrounds. Conversations are at the core of social networking and through them relationships are developed.22MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

48. Return on InvestmentSocial Media Social NetworkingSocial networking's ROI is a bit more obvious. If the overall traffic to your website is on the rise and you're diligently increasing your social networking base, you probably could attribute the rise in online visitors to your social efforts.It can be difficult to obtain precise numbers for determining the ROI from social media. How do you put a numeric value on the buzz and excitement of online conversations about your brand, product or service? This doesn't mean that ROI is null, it just means that the tactics used to measure are different. For e.g., influence, or the depth of conversation and what the conversations are about, can be used to gauge ROI.23MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

49. Timely ResponsesSocial Media Social NetworkingBecause social networking is direct communication between you and the people that you choose connect with, your conversations are richer, more purposeful and more personal. Your network exponentially grows as you meet and get introduced to others.Social media is hard work and it takes time. You can't automate individual conversations and unless you're a well-known and established brand, building a following doesn't happen overnight. Social media is definitely a marathon and not a sprint.24MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

50. Asking or TellingSocial Media Social NetworkingBig no-no on with social media is skewing or manipulating data, for your own benefit (personal or business).Asking friends, family, co-workers or anyone else to cast a vote just to cast it, doesn't do anyone much good for anyone and it can quickly become a PR nightmare if word leaks out about dishonest practices.With social networking, you can tell your peers about your new business or blog and discuss how to make it a success. The conversations that you create can convert many people into loyal fans, so it's worth investing the time.25MarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 2011

51. Social media and social networking do have some overlap, but they really aren't the same thing. Knowing that they're two separate marketing concepts can make a crucial difference in how you position your business going forward.Social Media and Social NetworkingMarketingatBahrain.org Copyright © July 201126

Successful Networking

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