When you’ve attended a networking event or meeting where you have met new people, hopefully you have asked for a business card from them, and reciprocated.  Although you may only hold onto a card for a brief time before it gets relegated to the bottom drawer – or in my case a mug (as per the picture!) the fact that you had been given a card is permission to contact people in the future.  Also, with an email address printed on the card, it is easier to connect.

You will notice when you invite a connection via LinkedIn, that you are asked for a category of how you know the person. If you didn’t work with the person before, don’t have any common groups you are part of, then you may be left with the default “friend” option which can be a little presumptuous at this early stage.  If you have a business card from the person you can then simply type in their email address under “other”.

Before you shoot off your standard template invite, consider how you might tailor it (briefly – you don’t have much space) for who you are sending it to, such as:
“Hello Sam. It was great to meet you at the XYZ conference yesterday.
I’d like to connect via LinkedIn.
Kind regards

Lois
Lois Keay-Smith
Career Wisdom”

Spare a thought for people who return from a conference with a swag of business cards and can’t remember who was who!  Avoid sending an invite without a personal message – it may mean not using the App for this purpose at this stage (be warned! – it currently fires off without giving you the opportunity to personalise the message).  Also ensure that you have a professional photo on your profile rather than a “bubblehead” (no photo loaded), to help them remember you.

Consider these protocols as the handshake and “it was nice to meet you”, as if you were face-to-face.  If you connect with someone virtually (ie you haven’t met them in person but share a similar group or interests or contact), it’s even more important to personalise rather than just popping up as a new connection invite. You wouldn’t do this in person, without introducing yourself first!

So, hopefully in due course, they will accept your invitation… congratulations, you now have a new contact in your network. Check out their profile so that you know more about them and can perhaps help in some way.  (People who pay for the base Linkedin membership may be able to tell that you have viewed their profile).

It’s fantastic to have LinkedIn file all your contacts alphabetically with the contacts updating their contact information. When someone moves jobs to another company, the business card becomes defunct, however the LinkedIn connection allows you to remain connected and updated. Hence no need for an elaborate business card filing system!

See how you can assist your connections.  I recently connected to a person on Linkedin who consults in the social media space. I sent her a link to some comments about her profession in a group which I thought she’d like to respond to.  She did, and was appreciative of the tip off.

Networking is all about making connections and contributions. Whether online or offline, many of the same rules and etiquette apply, don’t you think?

Happy connecting…

I invite you to comment here on the blog, and follow Career Wisdom on LinkedIn Company pages: http://www.linkedin.com/company/career-wisdom

Networking has come a long way from the established ways of the “old boys” networks, which were mostly locale specific, face-to-face, long term relationships, often inter-generational, grouped around common interests of recreation and/or business.

The modern face of networking is still face-to-face but also virtual (with pictures often used as a substitute), connected to things of like interest (even if coming from a very different industry or sector), global not necessarily local and quickly developed through common groups or via active referral. These days there is much more diversity apparent in people’s networks, as a result.

Why bother networking?  Aside from obvious business benefits or potential job opportunities (which incidentally is better done early and continually, before you need it!) there are great social benefits.  It is a boost to your wellbeing to meet new people who share common interests or aspirations. It’s also wise to broaden your view from your industry to a wider cross section of the community and to be open to collaborations, referrals ( both giving and receiving) and potential partnerships. You will likely find your confidence and social skills grow as you step outside your comfort zone to develop your networking muscles.

Don’t just network in your network – expand your horizons.  Explore interests and learn about other sectors.  I frequently hear of consultants in various fields, saying that they attend industry or their association’s networking functions, yet they are mingling with colleagues in the same industry, whom they already know.  Sure, it might be nice to trade war stories and you may be able to refer surplus work or leads to one another, but where are your potential clients and customers, or future employers? Time to think outside the square and get around a variety of groups and new people!

When it comes to attending functions, I advise to get there early – it’s easier as there are less people and it gives you a chance to warm to the environment.  I have often found my earliest connections at a function to be the strongest.  Have business cards handy, ladies try to wear a jacket with pockets and keep your cards in one pocket and your new connections’ cards in the other pocket. Believe it or not, people have actually given away others cards, instead of their own by mistake!

Enjoy networking and learning about other people and see where you can connect others together for mutual benefit. Ask, listen, and share with the people you meet. Bring others into the circle and look for ways you can contribute.

If you find it awkward meeting new people, consider using the three P’s: place, past, purpose.  Place is quite easy, asking and sharing about the venue, how you got there, traffic etc. as it’s small talk that helps sets people at ease. Past relates to whether they have connected with this group in the past , if they are a member etc.  Then, purpose is about why they’ve come along and perhaps what you have in common or how you can help them to connect.

Rather that this being a one-way interrogation, consider it a mutual and friendly discussion where you are trading information and stories. It should be a well matched game of ping pong, not a barrage of questions. If there is some commonality and you’d like to make contact again you might then say “It was great to meet you Dave, do you have a card? (and now I’d also ask:  ”and are you on LinkedIn?”), then exchange details. Have fun with it!

It’s not a competition to see who can collect the most business cards and handshakes, by the end of the function. It’s about making genuine connections. I will often make only 3 or 4 at a function, rather than a dozen fleeting hellos and goodbyes, where you may barely be remembered.

Engage. Connect. Give. Network!

In the next post we’ll look at e-networking, where many of these points apply, just in a different context. ’til then! ~ Lois

Mentoring can occur formally through mentoring organizations, alumni or professional associations.  In this case a mentor and mentee may be matched according to interests, what they hope to achieve from the mentoring relationship, location and any other relevant factors.  The organisation that supports the relationship may provide mentor training, act as a liaison and manage the length and record outcomes of the mentoring.  Mentoring may be in person, via the web, or a combination of both.

Mentoring can also be informal, such as supporting newer entrants to your industry.  I have over the years received informal mentoring from some incredible people and have also been an informal mentor when approached to mentor others or meet for coffee to chat about entry into my profession (commonly referred to as an informational interview, where the applicant/mentee is fact finding about a role or new career).

In a mentoring relationship, whilst you may decide to meet up (either in person or via Skpe or online chat /email, or a combination of means) regularly or semi-regularly, as a mentor you can also make yourself approachable and available to others who may seek you out when they hit a pothole, crisis or quandary in their career.  The important thing is to have trust, so that you can be open and speak confidentially and be real about your situation.  It isn’t counselling though, and mentors should take care not to cross that line as well as dispensing advice without being asked.

You can also get involved in mentoring youth through charitable mentoring such as Big Brother, Big Sister with the YMCA, helping with career and life skills over an extended period which can make a huge difference in a young person’s life.

Mentoring is a great example of careeranthropy in action – helping someone in their career and life by sharing your experience and wealth of knowledge. From a career angle, mentoring can be very beneficial for both mentor and mentee alike, as mentors are able to reflect on learnings from their own career and often report receiving pearls of wisdom from their menthe. Some mentoring relationships are established as “co-mentoring” where each person helps and mentors the other, equally.   It can be a highly rewarding and mutually beneficial way to give forward, and one that has lasting and even lifetime benefits.

Find a mentor. Be a mentor.  Or, both!

Now,  with all our technological advancements since then, you’d think things would have improved?  Sadly, no. Welcome to the age of “ignore”. RSVP now means “hey, if I didn’t respond it means I’m not coming” If you hear nothing regarding your job application, assume you didn’t get the job.  Heck, even social media endorses an “ignore” button!

Career coaches always encourage job seekers to solicit feedback for job applications they werent successful at. But, it can be hard enough to get an answer to your application…in fact ANY response at all!

Some job advertisers will cite that they get too many standard CVs through online job boards. Fair enough, if someone has gone to no effort other than clicking ‘Send’. But, for those who have put obvious time and effort into their application but haven’t been shortlisted – c’mon employers! –  step up, do the right thing, and respond.

I suggest if you are a job seeker, that you phone and request an update, outcome and if possible, some feedback. And, if none is forthcoming, express your surprise (and shock!?) that they wouldn’t extend you the courtesy of responding. Ever so politely, of course.

Also, please realise that it’s not you. It’s the ignore culture. Keep on crafting killer cover letters, resumes and targetting those applications.  Network.  Don’t give up. Get help from a career coach if you feel that you just aren’t getting anywhere and need some help.

Some employers seem to spend time and large sums of money on branding, citizenship and corporate social responsibility initiatives only to damage their hard earned reputation by ignoring those seeking work with their company.

Wake up, pay attention! These are job applicants – potential customers and clients, people who experience firsthand your company culture and evidence of how you treat people. They tell others.  They are people who deserve a response to their communication.

To ignore, is to be ignorant.  Not only that, but it’s plainly bad manners and very poor citizenship.

Whilst for some this may be interpreted as deciding on a deliberate shift towards working in a not for profit or starting up a social enterprise, for many it means contributing time, money and/ or skills towards helping others, either within a work context or as non paid work in your wider career.

I’ve met people who later in life after a successful career say that they now want to “give back” – by contributing their skills, knowledge, contacts and energy to help others.  That’s great, and admirable.   Just think though… what if everyone decided to “give forward” instead?  There is certainly no lack of need in the community for assistance, be it reading with first graders, enhancing websites for charities or assisting organisations with strategic planning and governance. The wonderful thing is, you can choose to contribute to something you are passionate about and that energises you. The possibilities are endless.

At the start of your career, and on the way through, the contacts you make and skills you develop when giving (time, money and/or expertise) to the community are strong career builders.

Opportunities abound to help with general volunteering, skilled volunteering, fundraising and giving.  If you work for a big company you may find that there are already programs that you can sign up for and get involved.  If not, why not be an advocate for promoting a giving culture in your organisation.

Aside from the satisfaction that careeranthropy brings, it also serves to enhance your career , by building networks and new skills.

(Tip: Did you know that LinkedIn has a section for Volunteer Work?  You can list your unpaid work, which can be beneficial in demonstrating your skill set and that you are a contributor.)

In what ways do you, or could you “give forward” in your career..?  I’d love to hear from you!

As a career professional, often working with youth and graduates, I am known to preach…”it’s not what you know (although that is a good start), it’s not who you know (although important too)…it’s WHO KNOWS YOU!”  And yet, I’m astounded by how many young people don’t know about LinkedIn. It’s dangerous to only take job hunting advice from parents (who may have limited experience, decades old) or people who may mean well but have not have worked in industry themselves for quite some time.  It’s a well known fact that the majority of jobs go unadvertised. Perhaps they think it’s for the ‘oldies’….news alert – the oldies (aka industry professionals, of all ages) are hiring.  Connect in person, connect online.. and get LinkedIn!

Lois Keay-Smith

Director, Career Wisdom

When I was a young thing I only had a Gap week (after exams I headed off with my boyfriend to Bali). At the ripe old age of 39 I finally had a Gap of 7 months, travelling with my family overseas. A brilliant experience and one that our daughter (who turned 10 along the way, in Paris) will never forget but may well repeat herself when she leaves school.

Choosing a satisfying career involves knowing yourself first – then discovering what is “out there”. What better way than moving out of your comfort zone and seeing and experiencing how other people live and work.

Gap Year – it gets my vote, at any age.

Lois Keay-Smith, Career Consultant

So, how do you know what your strengths are?  There are a few ways… survey, strength cards and stories.    Two surveys or questionnaires to establish your strengths that I can recommend are Dr Martin Seligman’s Strengths Survey http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu, which is free (you do have to register).  A good value paid survey from the UK, which provides a useful report is found here http://www.strengths2020.com/.

St Luke’s Resources publish some excellent cards too http://www.innovativeresources.org/ – I have Strengths Cards for kids and used them recently with my daughter.  It was terrific to see her recognising her strengths (one was “I am Happy”), and gaining a sense of self.

Often we fail to see our own strengths, but can recognise them in others.  The hallmark of a great leader is being able to see others’ strengths and harness them in the workplace, group or team.  If you have a conversation with someone about a time that they achieved something, you will find in their narrative and descriptions, that there are clues as to what their key strengths may be.

If you’d like to know more, on July 29 in Perth, I’m speaking at LunchBox List’s The Making of Me, You As a Leader Workshop, on “Realise Your Strengths, and Own Them”. http://tinyurl.com/23yn4kn

I wish you well in discovering your strengths. Drop me a line if you’d like to share them with me.

Until next time…

Go well !

Lois

Lois Keay-Smith, Career Wisdom

www.careerwisdom.com.au