Networking is essential to everyone’s career. But requests on our time and for our contacts can become a burden. If you want to be helpful:
- When contacted, ask the individual how you can be help them and what they expect from this meeting.
- With this information, be honest as to how you can help.
- Decide how/when/and for how long you want to meet. Let the individual know you can meet on Tuesday mornings for 20 minutes over coffee.
- If you can’t help them, tell them.
- If you don’t like to give out referral names but are willing to share information about your company or industry, tell them.
- If you think that someone you know might be a better contact, explain why and give the contact’s information.
- When you meet, run the meeting like a business meeting. It’s your time so take control.
- If you have names or information you think might be helpful, have it handy.
- If you think of a name or contact but don’t have the information, let the individual know you will call/email them with the information or ask them to follow up with you as a reminder.
- If you want/don’t want your name used with any contact, be specific with the individual.
- When the meeting ends, let the individual know if you want to hear from them again or not. Let them know to ‘keep in touch’ or ‘wish them well in their quest.’
Seeing networkers is time consuming and can be bothersome. Remember, in today’s environment, it could be you tomorrow and think how you would like to be treated.
By Marie Raperto, Cantor Executive Search Solutions
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