ARTICLE: How to Network like a Pro

[MatthewShiner]

I know I need to work on my networking skills . . .

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-network-like-a-pro-2010-4?op=1

[KMC]

Every time I read one of these articles I realize how poor I actually am at maintaining my professional network.  I'm great at connecting with new people, but I often neglect those I've fallen out of touch with or don't speak to on a regular basis.  A couple of steps I'm going to take to correct that:

• Anytime I am tempted by a social network during business hours, I'll peruse LinkedIn instead of Facebook.  If I'm going to have interaction, it will be professional.
• Reach out to one contact every day that I haven't talked to in 6+ months.  I started with "A" today, and was able to help an old friend who is involved with a Catholic parish fundraising effort connect with a high level contact in managed giving at the Archdiocese of Miami.  A successful start!

[NomieRae]

Great article, and very important.

Networking is sometimes the only thing that drags me to that 20th staged reading in a month, because I know when it comes down to it that spending the two hours enjoying a new work and incidentally bumping into dozens of people I have worked with or would like to meet is worth it.

I will freely admit it is so hard for me to meet new people in a networking environment, but have tried to be better at asking current colleagues to introduce me as a buffer to smooth the transition. Sometimes it is awkward as hell, but better than kicking myself over it later for not making an effort. 

[MatthewShiner]

I know I need to kick my networking into overdrive when I get back to NYC.

At the same time, it always feels so "sleazy" to me - I need to get over it.

[Jessie_K]

It is sleazy.  But not bad sleazy.  And yes, just get over it. 

I just wrote a cover letter that made me want to vomit in my own mouth is was so sleazy/networky-- blah.  But that's how it all works.

ETA: Matthew I'm sure you are a better networker than you think.

[KMC]

I know I need to kick my networking into overdrive when I get back to NYC.

At the same time, it always feels so "sleazy" to me - I need to get over it.

It's sleazy if you're only networking when you need a job or when you need a specific favor.  The relationship should be mutually beneficial.  The key is to add value to the counterpart in your professional relationship. 

I get that the "salesman speak" can feel canned and artificial, but I think it's that most of us are uncomfortable selling ourselves to the degree we need to be sold to get to where we want to be.

If you're always taking and not giving, then yes it's sleazy - but if it's mutually beneficial, you both win - and what is sleazy about that? 

[Bwoodbury]

I think KMC and the article have it exactly right. You can't network only to get work or a mentor. The way I think about it is that I want everyone I met, however briefly, to have a good impression of me. I could lead to nothing, or they could read my name again on a resume later, they could recognize me later (a not insignificant chunk of my work has come from running into someone I know right when they were looking for a stage manager). So, I don't really suck up, I only talk about my experience if it comes up naturally. I do let them know who I am, what I do; then I'm just nice. I try to be polite, have an appropriate sense of humor, and relaxed. I can't point to any specific instance and say "this is a time a got a job by being nice," but I do often walk into interviews with people who say they've heard nice things about me. Not gonna get me the gig right out, but it certainly helps to know you're starting with a positive impression.

[KMC]

Seemingly like clockwork our friends at Lifehacker published this piece today:  How to Skip the Sleaze and Build a Real Professional Network