Networking dos' and donts

Society Business and Career
1

I think it would be a good idea to discuss do’s and dont’s of building a contact, maintaining a contact and seeking help from a contact.

we could share tips/tricks/ideas on these topics and thus educate one another.

it would be great if we can do it as numbered points rather than paragraphs, some pointers may be self explanatory, others u may ahve to provide the reason/justification for.

start yer engines yuppies

2

May be if you start with a few pointers yourself, we can all get an idea what kind of pointers you are looking for. Otherwise the train may go in a totally wrong direction.

3

Start with your known contacts before you head off into the world of cold calling. Try and update them with what you have been upto if they dont already know and ask them about their jobs/careers/lifes etc.

4

hmcq, Kami bhai, and faisal bhai here is what I do to build the network.

Contacts thru contacts:

  • start with your personal contact list, tell all of them about your new business venture/job/project
  • some of them will be interested in details while rest of them wont bother but insist them to give you feedback at least.
  • ask them to reffer you to some one they think might be helpful
  • build relations with that someone if he is really a pick
  • Use his contacts to make even more contacts

Contacts thru idea/projects:

  • spend few weeks to compile a list of sources who you think might be helpful either online thru sites like hover or yello pages, white pages or even google zindabaad
  • send them a personal email (dont spam please) or make a phone call.
  • if they are interested send them details (off-line, on-lline) and arange a meeting if possible
  • get on the business aspects after that

Use sites:

  • search the networking sites like linked-in, ringo, naseeb, etc.
  • make a very good profile
  • invite your firends to join you there
  • and ask users who might be intersted to let you add in their group
  • use their contacts to build your own
5

Networking isbased on reputation which comes with experience. You can go to as many neworking receptions as you want, until you have done something that people can recognize and acknowledge, I am afraid it is just a business card collecting and disseminating exercise that you are conducting.

6

I'm going to some graduate thingy today which is supposed to be a networking opportunity- i'm so clueless about this networking stuff- these people from the big companies see thousands of graduates- and the companies have their own recruitment procedure- having contacts doest even help these days

7

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Matsui: *
Networking isbased on reputation which comes with experience. You can go to as many neworking receptions as you want, until you have done something that people can recognize and acknowledge, I am afraid it is just a business card collecting and disseminating exercise that you are conducting.
[/QUOTE]

I agree, you have to have 'something' to get them 'interested' otherwise its merely a waste of time and even they will not bother you next time.

yes antoher points as indicated by Sabiha

Networking thru Events:

  • Arrange a seminar/workshop related to your product/services
  • or participate in a relvent seminar/workshop as a speaker
  • or participate atleast as audience, have your questions ready and when you get into the spot light introduce yourself and then go onward.
  • Have a stall of your products/services in exhibitions
8

thanks guys, good start
lets look at it at different career stages as well.

One idea is to not take any of your contacts or people they refer you to for granted.

I had someone's cousin contact me for a job, referred him to the hiring director, they wanted to fly him in for an interview, dude never showed up..because he thought the pay to cost of living was not going to pan out.

his mistake- being an ass
my mistake- referring a friend's cousin simply based on my pal's word and not checking out this fellow for myself
my pal's mistake- referring his cousin simply because he is a rishtay daar.

so my pointers for using contacts for job hunts etc, both for the seekers the middle people and the people referring them.

for seekers-

1)dont waste people's time. If someone can not be of help or does not have contacts or opportunities that are of an interest. Thank them and move on dont bother people
2)be professional, your approach is not just going to help your job hunt but also reflects on people connecting you to other ppl.
3) contacts are not just for job hunts, no one likes the people who routinely show up when they need help with job hunt but other than that they have no time for you
4) Thank you notes to people who are trying to help, whether or nto it resulted in something, or whether or not they were able to help.
5) If someone is referring you in his own organization, keep the person appraised of the situation, he should not hear second hand that you chose not to accept an offer or did not get an offer etc.

for middle ppl-

these are the ppl trying to connect a job seeker with their contacts at companies which may be hiring.

1) Evaluate the person and only forward their info if you would not hvae a problem referring this guy in your own organization. If he does not meet that condition, dont pass him to others. Not only can you put your contact in an embarassing situation, but you can damage your own terms with this person, and this person's willing ness to help anyone else you refer in future.

for ppl in companies referring candidates-

1) evaluate the candidate yourself as if you had to hire him and only pass him on if he passes your own criteria.

9

It is reputation. I will not forward a resume or contact unless I have worked with, worked for, or supervised a person. Plain and simple....

Just the other day, I felt compromised and had to lie to the FBI because one of my friends had applied for the job and when they asked a question about his financial trustworthyness, I pleaded the 5th eventhough I knew that he had been involved in a few RTO's and pump and dumps.

Networking for recent entrants in to the professional worls requires the ability to shut your hole and watch and learn....not talk to much and only speak when spoken to.

10

I’m not a big fan of networking. In fact, I hate people who take my business card cuz they could ‘use’ me when the time comes…unless of course the guy is my friend. I believe, if you have the right skills, attitude and have your eyes open then you don’t need to kiss anyone’s arse.

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Fraudz: *
contacts are not just for job hunts, no one likes the people who routinely show up when they need help with job hunt but other than that they have no time for you

[/QUOTE]

Of course but what do you want them to do during other times? Have your contact on their mass email list? I find the whole set up quite artificial. The person is a contact after all.. a mere acquaintance ..not a relative or a friend…

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Fraudz: *Evaluate the person and only forward their info if you would not hvae a problem referring this guy in your own organization. If he does not meet that condition, dont pass him to others. Not only can you put your contact in an embarassing situation, but you can damage your own terms with this person, and this person's willing ness to help anyone else you refer in future.

[/QUOTE]

Correct, in that case, the person is more than a contact in my opinion. If you find your reputation at stake then you should know him/her better than his business card & the B.S the guy has dished out to you…

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Fraudz: *evaluate the candidate yourself as if you had to hire him and only pass him on if he passes your own criteria.

[/QUOTE]

I think the client is better off finding the job himself..through proper channels…than going through unofficial interviews.

11

^ Fayz, my response that you quoted wad focusing on only one use of networking i.e. help with job hunts etc.

To simply write off networking would be wrong. its not just a matter of finding jobs, but the advantages of networking is a whole diff thread.

let me respond to a few points though.

I believe, if you have the right skills, attitude and have your eyes open then you don’t need to kiss anyone’s arse.

Networking is not kissing anyone's ass. I am in touch with people who I worked with back a decade ago. Not everyone but some key ones, the contact is not on a weekly basis but every so often. the fact that they are in a diff state makes it a little tougher to get together.

*Of course but what do you want them to do during other times? Have your contact on their mass email list? I find the whole set up quite artificial. The person is a contact after all.. a mere acquaintance ..not a relative or a friend… *

agreed, and you may keep it at a business acquaintance level, but that means periodic contact. My colleagues from old dot com days still get toegther once every few months just to catch up. There are a few friends in that group but most people I dont see otherwise, but we try to stay in touch.

No need to invite such business acquaintances to valimas, bar mitzvahs, baptism or aqeeqas, but when u only hear from a person when he is looking for a job, it gets a little annoying.

*I think the client is better off finding the job himself..through proper channels…than going through unofficial interviews. *

Recruiters will disagree with you on that. majority of positions in a company are filled based on internal referrals and contacts of people within the organization. The idea is not to put someone through an unofficial interview but to get an idea of who the person is, what he wants, have some sense of comfort and confidence before putting your own rep on the line.