Did you go through the goal setting exercise outlined in the August '05 Dose of Reality? [see the end of this article for subscription information and back issues] If you did Jim Rice Youth Jersey , fabulous! With your goals written down, you聮re lightyears ahead of your peers. Get a load of this: A study was conducted a few years ago of graduates from a business school. Only three percent of grads had clearly articulated and written those grads earned ten times more than the 83% who had no goals at all. Even those grads who had some sense of their goals, but had not written them down, earned three times as much as those who hadn聮t given goals a second thought. How聮s that for motivation to get this exercise done?
Now that your goals are written down, do you think you can accomplish them all by yourself? Stop right there if you think you can. You may have impressive work experience and education, but 聭what you know?has less to do with your future career success than 聭who you know.?Start right now on creating an impressive network of contacts in your chosen field of work and you聮ll find yourself propelled toward your goals faster than you imagined possible.
Whether you聮re still in school Ted Williams Youth Jersey , or looking for your first job, or already in a job, a network of contacts in your chosen field is invaluable. But don聮t run out trying to meet as may people as you can聟you need to get yourself prepared first. Get a three-ring binder with forms you聮ve created for tracking all the important information you聮ll keep about each person you meet. It will be invaluable to you for decades to come. Next, practice nameface memorization tricks if you聮re not proficient in this very important networking skill. And if you聮re not already up-to-date on information in your field(s) of interest, go to the library or get online and read all the latest magazines and journals so you will have at least a basic understanding of what聮s happening in your field. That way you won聮t be caught off-guard if asked for an opinion on a hot topic.
Where to Start?
Begin with your school聮s alumni association, job fairs Mookie Betts Womens Jersey , and on-campus recruiting events. If you聮re already working full-time, start right there at your office聴in your department as well as others. Join a professional association and become an active participant. Don聮t just read their newsletter or sit quietly in the back of their meetings聴that won聮t get you anywhere.
More places to find people include the gym, community groups, volunteer organizations, and your own neighborhood. Personal and professional contacts can be made just about anywhere. Regard every situation and every person you meet as being valuable聴the most valuable contacts are often made in the most surprising places. CareerBuilder even has an online service to help get you in touch with people in your field, and Monster has good articles on networking to help you get started. [see the link at the end of this article for the fastest way to these great sites]
Start your networking notebook by entering friends J. D. Martinez Womens Jersey , teachers, previous employers or internship sponsors, counselors, alumni, parents?friends, your family doctor Blake Swihart Womens Jersey , your mechanic聴everyone you know! For each person, write down their full name, company, title, job description (to the best of your ability聴you don聮t need to be terribly detailed), addresses Jackie Bradley Jr Womens Jersey , phone numbers, and email addresses, hobbies and special interests聴basically, everything you know about them.
How to Meet People
At your professional association, join a committee, help with a fundraiser Dustin Pedroia Womens Jersey , or work at the hospitality desk at meetings聴it聮s a great way to meet lots of people while you gain experience. As the 聭new kid on the block?you have an advantage at these events. Strike up conversations by asking established members questions about the organization, their events and member services, and volunteer opportunities. You don聮t have to be a master of small talk, just curious. You don聮t have to be good at small talk, just at asking questions. Ask people about what their company does, what their role is David Price Womens Jersey , why they came to this particular meeting (what about the topic interested them most?).
Offer information when you can, but avoid sounding like a know-it-all. You want your name to come to people聮s minds when they need information or a person to fill a job with your skills. Let them know what you聮re capable of聴without becoming a blatant commercial for yourself.
Did you read an article on the meeting topic lately or write a paper about it? Have you done some research that your conversation partner might be interested in? Do you know how to solve the computer problem they complained of? Offer your opinions, insights, information, even advice (if you feel qualified to do so). It could lead to something bigger.
Keeping In Touch
Each time you contact any of the people in your notebook in any way (including a 聭chance?meeting at a restaurant), write down the date Xander Bogaerts Womens Jersey , place, and topics you discussed. Also make note of any promises you made to them or items you need to follow up. Every two or three months, list those people you have not contacted lately. Find different ways of reconnecting with them, like offering information that might help them or invite them to an association meeting.