• Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Free Gifts
  • Sign In My Account
Menu

The Job Search Center

6815 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland OH 44103
216-395-7433
I Got the Job! Success System

Your Custom Text Here

The Job Search Center

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Free Gifts
  • Sign In My Account

Networking Tools

March 31, 2020 Susan Nelson
AdobeStock_221721790. Networking Tools.jpeg

[Ed. note: This blog was written and posted in early 2020, before the onset of the coronavirus.]

I'd like to think many of these tools are obvious, but novice networkers may not know this and others may think that social media or other technologies will suffice. Hopefully collecting these tools will help each of us be better at networking.

The Basics - for attending networking events
Business Cards
Calendar
30-second Connecting Statement
Name Tag
Notepaper and pen or pencil

Printed business cards are not merely some holdover from a bygone era, and they are more than just an easy way to pass your contact info on to others. They are an inexpensive but tangible reminder of an interaction. There have been many occasions where I have referred to a recent (or even an old) collection of cards to help me recall a person I'd met, where I'd met them, and what we talked about. And the world is not yet ready for everyone to move to a "digital" or "virtual" business card (perhaps some day).

Reminder: it is more important to collect cards from others than to give your own card away - if you get another person's contact info, you have the information you need to follow-up with them, and you control the interaction. If they just have your info, the responsibility is all theirs and you lose control.

A calendar where you can keep track of appointments will streamline your networking, and allow you to better manage your schedule. This can be digital if you prefer - the most important qualities are that the calendar be one you actually use, and that it be with you while you meet others. I prefer to keep mine on my phone, but any traditional calendar will suffice. If you have to answer a request for a 1-2-1 meeting with "I'll call you when I get back to my calendar" you are wasting some of the value in your networking.

Your connecting statement is a key part of the networking event. It's the information you wish to impart to those you meet. It's the way you make your networking relevant to the others in the room. And it is a main part of your networking first impression. Memorizing a short answer to the questions "who do you help?" and "how do you help them?" will guide you here, and this is a topic I've written about at length before (and will do again). Keep it brief, and keep it focused.

A name tag, love it or hate it, is a great ice breaker. It helps make everyone more comfortable, and prevents that "oh, I know her, but I cannot remember her name" fumbling that afflicts us and embarrasses us all. This can be the paper stick-on type you write with a sharpie or a bic, a magnetically attached one you've had custom made, or even a fancy conversation starter with LED lights. As the purpose is to help others be comfortable and make you more easily remembered, don't put too much info on the tag. Put what you want others to call you, and perhaps your profession or industry you are in.

Reminder: name tags should be worn high on your right shoulder. This way, when you shake someone's hand, your eyes naturally progress up their arm to their shoulder, then to the name tag, then to the person's face.

I mention notepaper rather than a phone, tablet, laptop, or other electronic writing device because of the impression it makes on others. If you look down at your phone, it looks like you are more interested in your phone that what others are saying. But if you write on a notepad, the appearance is that you are focused on recording something important about what was just said. Yes, there are advantages to digital recording devices, but the impression of attention matters here, and unless your memory is good enough, it can be quite challenging to remember the names, business names, and requests for referrals from the 10-50 people who attend these events.

Advanced technique for a small group of people you do not know well: in the margin at the top of the notepaper, write each person’s name in a space relative to where they sit. If you cannot read their name tag after they have been introduced, you can glance at the page, see the name you wrote, and properly address them. 

Advanced Tools - for more productive 1 to 1 meetings
A Networking Referral Guide
List or descriptions of 10 ideal contacts or referrals
List of businesses, people, organizations, or resources you would like warm introductions to

I'm not going to go into details here for each of these, but the content of the four tools above will help you more quickly get to know, like, and trust each other. It will also help you better educate each other on who you want to be referred to, so your discussion can get to how you can each make those referrals.
 

In Blog, Hexter, How To, Networking
← How to Build and Maintain Friendships During (and After) a PandemicRefresher on Networking Basics →

Recent Posts

Featured
Jan 8, 2025
Let’s Look at a Late-30’s Man’s Transition
Jan 8, 2025
Jan 8, 2025
Nov 19, 2023
Healing Is Changing
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
To the Recalcitrant Seeker of a Leadership Role
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
Responding to an Emailed Referral Message
Nov 19, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
May 26, 2023
Whew! It's Memorial Day!
May 26, 2023
May 26, 2023
May 16, 2023
A Compliment and Three Questions
May 16, 2023
May 16, 2023
May 3, 2023
Insights Into Job Searching by Persons with Disabilities
May 3, 2023
May 3, 2023
Dec 19, 2022
Tis the season to treat your referrals like the gifts they are
Dec 19, 2022
Dec 19, 2022
Nov 4, 2022
Reasons to Keep Network During the Holidays
Nov 4, 2022
Nov 4, 2022
Jun 18, 2022
Thoughts on Long Distance Job Search Issues
Jun 18, 2022
Jun 18, 2022
Mar 25, 2022
Good Candidates, Where Are You?
Mar 25, 2022
Mar 25, 2022
Mar 25, 2022
What to Say Instead of, "What Do You Do?"
Mar 25, 2022
Mar 25, 2022
Mar 15, 2022
How to Connect
Mar 15, 2022
Mar 15, 2022
Feb 15, 2022
Connecting Is an Art and a Science
Feb 15, 2022
Feb 15, 2022
Dec 6, 2021
Why Employed Professionals Are Seeking Help to Change Jobs
Dec 6, 2021
Dec 6, 2021
Nov 1, 2021
Responding to People Who Are Discouraging: a Post to Help You Through Holiday Quandaries
Nov 1, 2021
Nov 1, 2021
Aug 12, 2021
When You Have "Too Many" Potentials
Aug 12, 2021
Aug 12, 2021
Jun 1, 2021
Is it time to ask for a raise?
Jun 1, 2021
Jun 1, 2021
Feb 17, 2021
Tips for Using Zoom in Networking
Feb 17, 2021
Feb 17, 2021
Feb 8, 2021
Your Fortune Is In Your Follow-Up
Feb 8, 2021
Feb 8, 2021
Jan 21, 2021
How Candidates With Disabilities Can Develop a Political Campaign
Jan 21, 2021
Jan 21, 2021
Dec 7, 2020
Yeah! You Got the Job! And the Gifts!
Dec 7, 2020
Dec 7, 2020
Sep 21, 2020
How to Use Technology in Your Career When You Have a Disability
Sep 21, 2020
Sep 21, 2020
Aug 26, 2020
Affirmation for When You Feel Stuck or Scared Things Won't Turn Out Well
Aug 26, 2020
Aug 26, 2020
Aug 26, 2020
How to Make GREAT Introductions via Email
Aug 26, 2020
Aug 26, 2020
Aug 26, 2020
Specific is Terrific!
Aug 26, 2020
Aug 26, 2020
Aug 21, 2020
Becoming VISIBLE to Your Network
Aug 21, 2020
Aug 21, 2020
Aug 21, 2020
KLT Is Not Enough
Aug 21, 2020
Aug 21, 2020
Jul 10, 2020
Almost Hired? That Window of Opportunity is More Special Than You Think
Jul 10, 2020
Jul 10, 2020
Jun 3, 2020
Maximize Networking During 2020
Jun 3, 2020
Jun 3, 2020

The Brownhoist • 4403 St Clair Avenue • Cleveland OH 44103