Looking to enhance your presence in the community as your explore potential job prospects? Attending events where you can network with new, innovative and seasoned corporations and companies is the way to go. In every city there is a nearby chamber of commerce. Clarksville is no exception. On Thursday, January 17th, members of the business community mixed and mingled at the chambers’ monthly after hours mixes held at the Red River Distribution Center. Attend events such as these with a 1, 2 3 approach and meet some folk who can help you are in the industry that you’d like to join. Let’s look at 3 takeaways for networking.
#1 Bring your networking business cards. On the front of your cards your contact information should be visible and your LinkedIn profile, webpage and 2 to 4 core strong competencies should be listed. On the back, your most deliberate, strategic competencies should be listed in a qualitative format. For example, 88% improvement in ticket sales for Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Practice your 15 to 20 second summary and introduction.
# 2 Bring paper, pen, networking business cards and inquire of all attendees what do you enjoy doing? Try to build a link and discuss any available commonalities that you may have with any professional in attendance. Keep your overall comments short and concise. Set your goal to meet everyone or almost everyone in attendance. Be sure to ask for a business card and offer yours. Take any relevant notes to remember key points about your conversation.
Do not ask for a job or job leads.
#3 Follow up on LinkedIn or by email, noting something of interest from your conversation and thanking your new professional contact. Build rapport. One way to do this is to ask for advice. Offer your services in some way and as your business relationship develops, use this terminology to inquire about potential connections with key relevant persons that this person may have a relationship with:
Do you know someone who is active in xyz professional association? If they say no, then ask, “Do you know someone who may know someone in this profession?”
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