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Some Networking Do’s & Don’ts
When Approaching
- Arrive on time for the event
- Don’t approach industry members with a large group
- Don’t cut into someone’s conversation but rather find a way to join the conversation
- Take the initiative to walk up and say hello – people are there to talk to you
- Dress in proper business attire
- Avoid strong perfume or cologne (less is better; none is best)
- If there is food at the event, do not approach anyone while you are eating
- Approach with a greeting and start the conversation with a friendly introduction
- Save time and approach the people who you want to target
- Be prepared for your conversations – have questions ready that are relevant to the people you are speaking with
- Always make sure to find out the proper pronunciation of the individual’s name
- Stand with proper posture, have a firm handshake and an inviting smile
- Keep phones off or on silent – don’t check your phone during the event
When Building Rapport
- Rapport is built by learning about the individual and that requires attentive listening
- Be prepared to speak about who you are, your experiences (both at school and outside of school) and what direction you plan to go in once you have finished school
- Current events and news may be a great way to get a conversation going, so be sure to research current events in specific industries before the gathering
- Learn as much as you can about the industry member and take notes – the notes will be useful for future meetings
- If you are in a group setting, make sure to keep the industry professional as a part of the conversation
- You can’t build rapport by monopolizing a person’s time
- When you talk to an industry member, try to talk about information you feel is relevant to the other individual
- Be genuine and sincere – people connect better when they feel someone is being honest
- Try to add value to the conversation. To do this, you must listen well! For example, the industry member may mention that they don’t know how to use a certain app – offer advice or help! Offer insights into questions the individual may have.
- Always remember networking is a two way relationship!
The Ask: Gaining Value from the Interaction
- You can move on to discussing your goal (ie, an interview, etc.) only once you have established rapport, so you should not talk business first
- Never ask for a job when you first meet
- Never give your resume when you first meet
- Feel free to ask for a business card
- Try to establish the best way to follow up and perhaps even when to follow up
- Don’t get ‘cornered’ – if you feel uncomfortable in a conversation, find a polite way to excuse yourself
When Following Up
- Try to follow up on the terms that have been established during the conversation
- Start the follow up with a thank you
- Wait at least 12 hours to follow up and try to follow up during standard work hours