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Your #Career : 5 Big #Networking Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Career…The Reality is that most #JobOpenings are Never Advertised or Posted. In fact, 63% of Job Seekers Land New Jobs through Networking

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Networking is one of the most important things you can do to nurture your career. Whether you love getting out there and selling yourself or dread the task of making small talk, failing to network effectively will leave you spinning your wheels as far as finding a new job or advancing in your current one.

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People everywhere struggle with the most basic aspects of networking. What gives us the most trouble? Roughly a third of job seekers said they had trouble picking out who they should try to network with, a 2014 Lee Hecht Harrison survey found. One quarter said they didn’t have a focused networking strategy, and roughly the same number said making initial contact with people over phone and email was their biggest stumbling block.

“The reality is that most job openings are never advertised or posted, which means tapping your network is anessential job search resource to uncover hidden opportunities. In fact, 63% of job seekers land new jobs through networking,” said Greg Simpson, Senior Vice President, Career Transition Practice Leader at Lee Hecht Harrison. “Developing a strong network and fruitful relationships takes real work. Individuals must be proactive and devote time to building and nurturing a strong career network of contacts.”

 Once you get over those initial networking hurdles, more trouble awaits. From not being able to effectively exploit your networking to focusing too much on yourself, here are five of the biggest networking mistakes people make.

1. Not asking for help

No one will know that you’re searching for a job if you don’t tell them. Yet too many people seem reluctant to broadcast that they’re looking to make a career change. Forty-two percent of senior managers surveyed by OfficeTeam in 2014 said not asking for help was the biggest networking mistake they saw people make.

“People may not ask those in their networks for help because they’re embarrassed or think they can succeed on their own,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam, in a statement. “But whether you’re looking to land a new job or build your visibility, every connection counts.”

2. Not having a pitch

Putting together a canned “elevator speech” can feel a bit cheesy and inauthentic. But if you’re going to network, you need to be able to quickly explain to people who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for. The key is making your pitch sound natural.

“The problem with most elevator pitches is that they get crafted on paper but not adjusted to sound like how a real person speaks,” wrote communication and behavior expert Deborah Grayson Riegel in an article for Fast Company. Riegel suggests practicing your pitch out loud and using the simplest language possible. You should also be able to tailor your pitch based on who you’re speaking to and be willing to forgo it entirely if working the information into the conversation would be awkward.

 

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3. Only networking online

Online networking is essential these days – 35% of employers surveyed by CareerBuilder in 2015 said they were less likely to interview people who didn’t have an online presence. But for most people, having 500+ LinkedIn connections and hundreds of Twitter or Instagram followers isn’t going to substitute for meeting people in person. Instead, you need to work to make those virtual connections pay off in the real world.

“As networking becomes synonymous with online networking … [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][people] can neglect the importance of actually meeting up with people for coffee, making a phone call, or showing up at an event. So far online connections have not supplanted these traditional interactions,” James Jeffries, the director of career development at Bard College of Simon’s Rock, told Time magazine.

4. Only talking about work

When networking, don’t restrict yourself to shop talk. Whether you’re attending a business mixer or just happen to bump into a contact at the coffee shop, be prepared to chat about subjects other than your career. People are more likely to help and hire people they like and relate to, and letting your personality shine through will allow you to build real relationships with your contacts.

If you’re attending a networking event where you’ll be meeting people for the first time, “come up with a few questions as ice breakers,” etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore told Inc. magazine. “My typical go-to questions always revolve around food and travel, because everybody loves to eat and most everybody loves to travel.” Whether you’re just getting to know someone or reconnecting with an old colleague, remember that networking is a social activity; keep the conversation professional, but fun.

5. Not offering to help others

Networking is a two-way street, yet too many people go into it with a “What’s in it for me?” attitude. A more effective approach is to focus on what you can offer other people. If someone you meet mentions they need someone to help with their taxes, and you have an accountant you love, recommend her – you’ve made two people happy (and yourself look good) in the process. Let the intern pick your brain when he asks — you never know where he could end up being able to do you a favor. Building goodwill in this way can pay off big later when you need to tap your network for support.

“With any relationship, there is a cycle of giving and receiving,” Selena Soo, the founder of branding consultancy S2 Groupe, told Fast Company. “If you lead with taking, you won’t be successful because it will turn people off. But people who give to their social circles naturally reap benefits.”

Follow Megan on Twitter @MeganE_CS

 

CheatSheet.com | December 9, 2015 | Megan Elliott

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Your #Career : 10 Great #Internships For 2016…This Year More than 90% got #JobOffers at the End the Summer, & of Those, 90% Accepted.

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The 60-some interns in Evercore’s summer program work shoulder to shoulder with analysts at the New York-based investment banking firm. “This is not by any means a shadowing program,” says Randi Brown, head of recruiting and training. While interns work on actual deals, they also get plenty of mentoring and support, she says. “They’re not thrown into the ocean and have to learn how to swim.” Evercore, co-founded in 1996 by Roger Altman, deputy treasury of the secretary under Bill Clinton, relies on its highly selective internship ranks to recruit full-time staff. This year more than 90% got job offers at the end the summer, and of those, 90% accepted.

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How does Evercore recruit? It visits 10 top undergraduate campuses and six business schools, including, for undergrads, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia, but it also accepts applicants from elsewhere. The firm is looking for star students. Brown says the grade point average cut-off isn’t a formal one but the average GPA is a high 3.8. She also wants to see a demonstrated interest in Evercore’s business, like membership in a finance club and previous related internships. Along with the likelihood of a job offer, interns enjoy perks during the summer like rafting trips, country club visits and basketball games. They also meet with senior members of the firm like Altman.

That combination of serious work, supportive training, networking opportunities, perks and promise of a job offer lands Evercore in the No. 1 slot on a new list of the nation’s best internships put out by career website Vault. To compile the list, Vault reaches out to more than 600 organizations. This year 102 elected to participate, collecting a total of more than 5,800 reviews by current and former interns who ranked their experiences in five categories on a scale of one to 10. The categories: quality of life including hours and flexibility, compensation and benefits, interview process, career development including mentoring and training, and full-time employment prospects.

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Though there are thousands of internship programs across the country, we believe Vault’s is a great list because the programs pay, some very well, and the companies who participate in the Vault list see the listing as a recruitment tools. Though some of the sexiest internship programs aren’t on the list—Google, Apple and Facebook were invited but didn’t return questionnaires—consider this list a potential point of entry into a solid career in what politicians love to call “good paying jobs” with benefits and a future.

In releasing the list in November, Vault has missed some important dates. At accounting firm Elliott Davis Decosimo, based in Greenville, SC, the October deadline has already passed for this year’s seven-week summer program. Like Randi Brown at Evercore, recruiting director Megan Wright says that it treats interns as though they were full-fledged staff members, working on audits and other projects.

They also get a thorough introduction to the firm, meeting with the human resources and marketing departments. “They learn everything about how the firm works,” she says. The pay is between $23 and $24 an hour, she says, and interns enjoy weekly social gatherings like bowling with partners. Wright says Elliott Davis is also big on volunteer work and gives interns time off during the workday to help out at charities like the local food bank. Hours are reasonable, running from eight to five on weekdays. The firm has another internship program that runs for 10-15 weeks during tax season, starting in January. Those interns often put in overtime, as do many people who work at the firm.

No. 3 on the list is the prestigious, high-power consulting firm Bain, based in Boston. Bain has 53 offices around the world, the majority of which host interns. The application deadline isn’t until December or January, says head of global recruiting Keith Bevans, a partner in Chicago. It’s a rolling deadline because Bain does most of the recruiting for its 10-week summer program on campuses at prestigious schools. It takes rising seniors and MBA students. Like Evercore, Bain makes job offers to 90% of interns. The firm has been growing by 15% a year for the past two decades, says Bevans, which has made Bain pay special attention to its internship program, which is a great testing ground for new employees. “We put them on real casework, they’re given real clients to work with and we expect them to have a real impact,” he says. MBAs and undergrads both get a week of training before they start their internships. The MBAs go to Cape Cod and join teams of 4-6, led by a manager or partner, to work through a series of simulated cases. Undergrads do the same kind of training in the office. The bar is high for new hires. “We look for really smart people who have great people skills and leadership skills that show they can make things happen.” He declines to offer a GPA cut-off except to say if the applicants have a low GPA, “they have to be phenomenal.”

See our slideshow above for Vault’s list of 10 top internship programs, with some stats on each program. I’ll list the rest of the 10 below. You can also follow this link to see Vault’s top 50.

  1. Cap Tech Summer Internship Program
  2. Northwestern Mutual Internship Program
  3. Plante Moran Internship
  4. KPCB Fellows Program
  5. The Boston Consulting Group Summer Internship Program
  6. Moss Adams Summer Internship Program
  7. Kohl’s Department Stores: Corporate

Forbes.com | November 20, 2015 | Susan Adams

Your #Career : Here’s How to Write an #Email to a Potential #Employer … In a Way, Writing the Perfect Email to a Potential Employer is a Balancing Act.

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On the one hand, you want to make your message and application stand out from the others they’re receiving. But you definitely don’t want to be too gimmicky or unprofessional.

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We consulted Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume, about how to send a clear and compelling message to a company you’re dying to work for. Read on for seven tips that will get you one step closer to your dream job.

1. Write a clear subject line.

Augustine advised against getting catchy with subject lines. Instead, make it obvious that you’re submitting a job application.

If there are no specific directions in the job posting, something as simple as, “Application for Strategy Reporter (ID #12345): Shana Lebowitz” should work.

However, if you’re cold emailing a potential employer, you should get a bit more creative in your subject line.

Talk about the value you can provide — for example, “would love to share my ideas on increasing sales team productivity.” Consider what the person you’re emailing cares about and why she would want to read your message.

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2. Address your message to the appropriate person.

“The worst thing you could do is put, ‘Dear Madam’ or ‘Dear Sir’ as your opening,” Augustine said,” because it shows you didn’t put any effort into researching the right person.”

You can do some sleuth work on LinkedIn and find out the name of the company recruiter or hiring manager who originally posted the job. If that doesn’t work, you can leverage your network — do you know anyone who works there? — and find out who the appropriate addressee is.

In the rare case that the job is anonymously posted, you can say, “Dear HR Professional” or “Dear Hiring Manager.”

3. Talk about what you can provide the employer.

Keep in mind, Augustine said, that the employer is the target audience. So think about what type of value you’re offering them, as opposed to the other way around.

In the body of your email, mention exactly what you can do for the employer and what you’ve learned about that company.

4. Customize the email to the individual employer.

Augustine said it’s important to tailor your message to each individual job and company.

“The more you talk about their specific needs and how your skill set does make you a really good solution to those needs, the more likely your message is to be read.”

And it might sound obvious, but make sure you include the name of the correct company in your email, especially if you’re emailing multiple employers at once.

“Oftentimes that can put you out of the running,” Augustine said. “Employers are looking for reasons to get rid of those applications.”

5. Don’t copy and paste your resume.

Augustine recommended not cutting and pasting your resume into the body of the email because the formatting ends up “atrocious.”

Instead, you should either attach a document or provide a link to a Google Doc. (You can hyperlink a few words so that you don’t end up with a long string of letters and numbers.) If you choose to submit a Google Doc, make sure you select the “view only” option for the employer.

6. Send your email ASAP after the job posting goes up.

“The sooner you get your job application in, the better,” Augustine said.

In general, you’ll want to submit it within 72 hours of the posting going up, because employers start to get inundated with applications after that and might not even open yours.

7. Follow up promptly.

Augustine recommends including a sentence in your email that says, “I will follow up with you on [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][whatever date] once you’ve had time to review my application.”

She advises planning to follow up one week after you send the application or, if there’s a close date on the job posting, planning to follow up a week after that. Make sure you mark the date on your calendar, so you don’t say you’re going to follow up and then forget.

 

Businessinsider.com | November 28, 2015 | 

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Your #Career : Here’s What to do When your #Boss Catches you Looking for a New #Job … Whether you Think your Boss Suspects that you’re Looking for a New Job — or you’re Certain they Know, Because they Caught you Red-Handed — you’ll Probably feel Anxious & Perhaps even Doomed.

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We’ve solicited readers to submit their most pressing career-related questions.  With the help of Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job,” we’ve answered the following: “I think my boss knows I’m looking for a new job. What should I do?”

Free- Women going Up Stairs

Whether you think your boss suspects that you’re looking for a new job — or you’re certain they know, because they caught you red-handed — you’ll probably feel anxious and perhaps even doomed. 

“Maybe you were caught visiting a job board; there was a snitch among your ‘trusted networks’; or it turns out your boss actually does notice you — that is, your frequent LinkedIn updates, long lunches, and ‘doctor visits’ the days you come in wearing a suit. But before you seek refuge under the nearest credenza, take heart; you can recover from this,” Taylor explains.

First, she says, you need to realize that this happens to so many people. “Most workers stay employed while they conduct a job search, and even if you do it on your lunch hour or breaks, there can still be other outward signs if you’re not extra vigilant: a new, interview-worthy wardrobe, more absences and visible networking online, and an overall change in behavior,” she says.

If you’re in the midst of a job search or thinking about one, now is the time to be prepared for softening the blow to your manager (and to your career), she says. “Of course, more than an ounce of job hunting discretion doesn’t hurt, either.”

Here’s what to do if your boss calls you out:

Know where you stand.

Before you approach or respond to your boss, Taylor suggests you examine the following factors:

-Your current level of job security (Do you have a great track record?)
-How upset your boss might be as a result of this possible/perceived “betrayal”
-Whether you’re willing to forfeit the job entirely
-How comfortable you are telling the truth
-Whether you feel your current job still has potential
-Whether there are external factors that may legitimize a search, such as a downsizing or pending merger

 

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Stay cool.

When your boss confronts you, the first thing to remember is to avoid panic, she says.

“Just how you react to the ambush is almost as important as the ‘misdeed,'” she explains. “Your boss is unlikely to be all smiles, so you’ll need to quash the tension.” Try to bring the conversation from contentious to constructive, with much as much diplomacy and respect as you can muster.

Be empathetic.

While it can sometimes seem dubious, your boss does have feelings and will likely feel dismayed and rejected, if not outright angry. “By identifying with his or her feeling of betrayal, your demeanor will be much more natural — and hopefully generate more patience and understanding,” Taylor says.

Keep your response simple.

This is no time for TMI, which can happen when your nerves are frayed, she says. “Less will be more in your damage control. You can give the overall truthful answer, but many details will exacerbate an already awkward situation.”

Don’t lie.

Savvy bosses have their antennae up when you’re job searching, so it’s hard to know the source(s) of their information. “That’s why it’s better not to lie and risk further harming your relationship,” advises Taylor. “You can, however, be diplomatic in how you describe your search.”

 

Give a thoughtful explanation.

Think about your desired goals and future at the firm beforehand.

Bad choice: “Yes, I’m not happy here, so I’ve been conducting an active job search for awhile.”

Better choice: “I’ve been reviewing a couple of opportunities to learn more about my marketability, but not actively. I’d prefer to stay here and am hoping we can discuss how to improve things to our mutual satisfaction. I’m fully committed to my position here.”

Best choice if accurate: “I have been approached by a couple recruiters/companies and felt that I should at least listen to them. But I’m most interested in staying here and want things to work out.” Then, discuss your commitment to and interest in resolving issues, Taylor suggests.

There may be other circumstances that make the news of your job search less traumatic for your boss. If your company or department has been downsizing, or there are rumors of a merger, for instance, it may not come as a big shock. The leak about your search could lead to a discussion clarifying your level of job security, she says.

Clearly, you wouldn’t be searching for a new job if things were entirely rosy. So this is an opportunity to lay some cards on the table, with the utmost tact, she explains. “The discussion could ultimately improve your relationship. Your next move will depend a great deal on the relationship you had with your boss before the ‘event.'”

Taylor says this could be your chance to candidly discuss your need for greater responsibility. You might bide a little time to think through your pitch for what’s missing from your job. Maybe you feel you deserve a promotion and/or raise. Consider asking for a follow up meeting about your job and career.

“Even if the job isn’t in your long-term interest, you still want to improve upon interim problems as best you can while you’re there,” she adds. “Personality clashes may be tough to tackle, but a lot may stem from the need to set better boundaries and expectations, improve communications, project flow and/or deadline prioritization.”

Don’t burn your bridges.

If you have a combative attitude, you’ll lose a valuable reference, burn your bridges, and hurt your reputation.

If you respond, “Yes, I’m looking elsewhere and unhappy” (i.e., “you got me!”) with no interest in a resolution, most employers will feel that you’ve already checked out — and your prospects at the company will be dim, says Taylor. “Stay professional. It will be remembered, despite your setback.”

Try to regain trust.

Regardless of where your career is headed, you want to try and regain your boss’s confidence as best you can. This can be challenging, as managers are leery of proprietary leaks, especially to direct competition. Also, at this point they’ll be more skeptical about how hard you’re working. “You may get the cold shoulder for awhile,” Taylor warns.

“Still, do your best to work hard and remain accessible. Make sure you conduct any job search activities outside the office and avoid any social media tip-offs, such as adding 100 new LinkedIn industry contacts overnight.”

Stay focused.

It’s easy to get distracted after a setback like this; it will feel like a very bad day. But don’t dwell on the fact that you “got caught.” It doesn’t mean that you’ll lose your job; you may ultimately be able to modify it. If you do ultimately part ways, it will likely be for the best — your dream job could be around the corner, she says.

Show commitment and enthusiasm.

“You’re likely under a microscope now, and there may even be rumors about your allegiances,” says Taylor. “The pressure is on to show you’re still dedicated and producing excellent results.”

Continue to meet deadlines and be helpful to your boss and colleagues. Be upbeat and avoid any inference that you may have one foot out the door. (And be careful chatting up your search with peers!)

Stay positive and in control. “You could end up staying at the company in a related capacity. Or, someone at the company could end up hiring you at your next job.”

Readers: Want us to answer your questions related to your career or job search? Tweet Careers editor Jacquelyn Smith @JacquelynVSmith or email her at jsmith[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][at]businessinsider[dot]com, and we’ll do our best to answer them.

 

Businessinsider.com | November 25, 2015 |  

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#Leadership : 7 Valuable Skills You Can Learn in Less Than a Day… If you Really want to Add to your Personal Value & Become More Attractive on the Job Market, You can Learn some New Skills.

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We’ve listed seven of those skills below. Some will take more effort than others, but making the decision or commitment to learn any of them will leave you better off when you go to sleep tonight

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http://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/7-valuable-skills-you-can-learn-in-less-than-a-day.html/?a=viewall

Your #Career : 5 Things You Should Never Lie About On a #Résumé ..More than Half of the #Employers in the Survey have Caught a Lie on a Résumé, Including an Applicant Claiming to be a Former CEO of the Company He was Applying

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First impressions are critical during a job hunt. Seven in 10 employers spend fewer than five minutes reviewing a résumé,

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http://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/5-things-you-should-never-lie-about-on-a-resume.html/

Your #Career : 5 Interview Mistakes That Can Cost You The Job…If you’re Just Starting your Job Search or have Been Off your #Interview Game for a While, these Things can Happen.

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Here are a few of the interview slip-ups I’ve seen cost completely qualified candidates their dream jobs.

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2015/11/13/five-interview-mistakes-that-can-cost-you-the-job/

Your #Career : Keep Upbeat On The Job Search When You’re Down In The Dumps…Job Seekers Must Constantly Keep their Game Faces On.

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So much in real life pulls us down, whether it’s relationship stress, family illness or money problems, not to mention the myriad depressing strains of a long-term job search.

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2015/11/12/keep-upbeat-on-the-job-search-when-youre-down-in-the-dumps-5/

Your #Career : 8 Steal-Worthy Secrets of Power #Networkers …Since There are So Many Different Platforms for People to Market Themselves these Days, You Have to Find Ways to Cut Through the White Noise & Get Noticed

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You’ve no doubt heard it a million times: Career advancement is as much about who you know as what you know—and that’s exactly why being a powerful networker is so important. But mastering this crucial skill requires more than just schmoozing over cheese platters and exchanging business cards. There’s actually an art to it.

 

“Since there are so many different platforms for people to market themselves these days, you have to find ways to cut through the white noise and get noticed,” says Ivan Misner, Ph.D., author of “Networking Like a Pro.”

When done skillfully, networking can not only open the door to plum job opportunities but it can also help land new clients and tap talent for future hiring. And what better way to learn the ins and outs of such skillful networking than to go straight to power networking pros for their tips on how to land on someone’s radar—and stay there.

Power Tip #1: Give Before You Receive

One of the biggest networking mistakes people make is jumping the gun when asking for a favor. One cardinal key of successful networking: Give before you can get.

“I can’t emphasize this enough—if you want to form a relationship with another person, you first need to show them how they’ll benefit,” says professional relationship development expert Keith Ferrazzi, author of “Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time.” “You usually bring a small gift to a dinner party, so why wouldn’t you offer a potential ally a token of generosity when you meet?”

And according to Ferrazzi, it needn’t be elaborate either. The gesture can be as simple as forwarding a relevant article or providing an introduction to someone who can further the person’s own interests.

So when can you comfortably turn the tables and ask for help? It’s a judgment call. But seeking favors too early can turn your contacts off—and risk damaging any positive collateral you’ve stored up. “People often say, ‘Hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask, right?’ ” Misner says. “But if you ask before you’ve established a relationship, then you are destroying the opportunity to cultivate one.”

So think of networking like a bank account—you have to make deposits and shore up social capital before making a withdrawal. Case in point: One of Misner’s contacts called him up every month or two to ask how his latest project was going and whether he could pitch in. After reaching out several times over a year, he told Misner he had a favor to ask. “I replied, ‘Yes!’ ” Misner says. “He hadn’t even told me what he needed, but he’d invested so much in our relationship that I was happy to do it.”

 

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Power Tip #2: Ask for a Strategic Introduction

If there’s a specific person you’re hoping to connect with, do some Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn sleuthing to see if you have a contact who knows that individual directly, or at least knows someone who works for the same organization.

Explain your game plan to your contact—you’re a huge fan of the company and would love to build a strategic relationship with such-and-such key player—and then ask if the person might be able to introduce you at an upcoming networking event.

“If you can find it, a third-party endorsement will give you a powerful edge,” Misner says. “It makes you stand out, and lends you credibility.” And the more credibility you have, the more likely that person will trust that you’re worth his time.

 

“People are always chasing bright, shiny objects, but I’m a firm believer in doing six things a thousand times, not a thousand things six times.”

Power Tip #3: Don’t Just Collect Cards

In the game of networking, you’re going for quality, not quantity—so simply focusing on beefing up your Rolodex will backfire.

Misner recalls meeting a young woman who claimed to be a pro networker. Her “brilliant” technique? She and her business partner would split the room in half, amassing as many business cards as possible. They’d then enter all the info into a database and email their new contacts. “Essentially, they’d spam people,” Misner says. “Using networking like a face-to-face cold-calling opportunity is a huge error.”

Instead of casting a wide net, direct it toward cultivating deep personal connections. “People are always chasing bright, shiny objects, but I’m a firm believer in doing six things a thousand times, not a thousand things six times,” Misner says.

To do this, Ferrazzi recommends creating a relationship action plan for every professional goal that you have—be it landing a new job or building up your client base. Make a list of people who can be instrumental in helping you achieve that success: friends, co-workers, people you’re hoping to meet, and even individuals you admire and just follow online.

“Write down why each person is important, and how you would categorize the strength of your relationship on a scale of zero to five,” he says. This will help you develop a strategy to pursue your goals—and home in on getting help from the right people.

 

Power Tip #4: Follow Up—and Then Follow Up Again

After clicking with a powerful new connection, too many people drop the ball—failing to check in post-meeting and never leveraging the new relationship.

So try this strategy from Kim Marie Branch-Pettid, C.E.O. and president of LeTip International, a business networking and referral organization. Immediately following a conversation with a person of interest, Branch jots down a number from 1 to 10 on the back of their business card, indicating their potential to help her advance in her career. For anyone who scores a seven or above, she adds a brief note about them, such as “trip to London, 3-year-old son, starting a new job.”

The next day, Branch sends an email to the person, saying that she enjoyed the conversation, and references one of her notes, like “Have a great time in London!” Finally, she assists in some way, by sending a link to an interesting London travel article or offering to introduce the person to a friend who works at the same company they just joined.

And don’t forget to maintain the connection. “In order for your relationships to become more robust, you need to ‘ping’ your network on a regular basis,” Ferrazzi says. “Create a schedule for keeping in touch, whether you set aside X amount of time each day to networking, or reach out to X number of people each week.”

 

Misner used the technique to land a coveted interview with mogul Richard Branson. After learning that Branson had launched a nonprofit called the B-Team, Misner used the nugget as his “in.”

 

The frequency and depth of your interactions depends on the strength of the relationship. For casual connections, the occasional retweet or Facebook comment might suffice. For deeper ones, think along the lines of a thoughtful email or meetup.

Power Tip #5: Suss Out Your Contact’s Passions

Before meeting someone you’d like to develop a relationship with, do an online search to uncover what they’re truly interested in, from charities they support to any awards they’ve received.

“Doing your homework shows a sincere interest in the other person as an individual, and not just as a business contact,” Ferrazzi says. “It also helps you understand how you can be of service—if you can offer something specifically geared to what’s important to them, they’ll be more open to connecting with you.”

Misner used this technique to land a coveted interview with Virgin mogul Richard Branson. After learning that Branson had recently launched a nonprofit called the B-Team, Misner used the nugget as his “in.” During a run-in with Branson, whom he’d met once before, he said, “I understand you’re doing something called the B-Team. Tell me about it.”

“He lit up,” Misner remembers. “I asked him how I could be of help with the project, and suggested interviewing him for my blog.” It was a win-win networking move: Branson’s charity got some extra airplay, while Misner landed his interview.

Power Tip #6: Deepen Your Network Pool

The more similar someone is to you, the more comfortable it feels to connect, which is why networks are, by nature, homogenous. “We tend to hang out with people like ourselves—the same gender, ethnicity and academic background,” Misner says. “But diversity is key to growing a strong personal network.”

So seek relationships with totally different people who can introduce you to brand-new social clusters. Not only will you gain access to potentially influential individuals whom you’d otherwise might never meet, but you’ll stand out from the pack.

For example, Misner is a member of an organization of women business owners. They allow men to join, so he asked a female friend to sponsor him at a meeting. “Everyone remembered me because I was one of two or three guys there,” Misner says. “I ended up getting a lot of business out of it.”

One important way to diversify is to “network down.” Most people concentrate on networking up—building a rapport with someone higher than yourself on the ladder. But it’s also smart to connect with savvy junior people in your industry because they might end up being portals of intel that can boost your career down the line.

 

Just like you wouldn’t give any Joe Schmo a job reference, you also shouldn’t add LinkedIn requests from strangers.

 

Power Tip #7: Don’t Overly Pimp Your Profile

If your LinkedIn page is open like a 7-Eleven, and you’re accepting invites from everyone and their mother, you could be putting your reputation on the line.

Your LinkedIn contacts are a reflection on you, and it’s implied that you’re vouching for someone’s skills by connecting. So just like you wouldn’t give any Joe Schmo a job reference, you also shouldn’t add contact requests from complete strangers.

Likewise, “You should only reach out to someone via LinkedIn if you have a connection in common,” Branch says, adding that you should write a message when asking to connect, rather than using LinkedIn’s form letter. And if you don’t have any shared connections, it’s better to get in touch via a more personal email or letter.

Power Tip #8: Seek Common Ground

There is a shortcut to fostering a new relationship with real roots: Figure out what you and the other person have in common—whether you went to the same school or both love to snowboard.

“Focusing on the similarities between you is a quick way to develop a rapport,” Branch says. “So don’t be afraid to ask personal questions that let the individual speak about him or herself: Where are you from? Do you have kids?”

Then it’s your turn to open up. One of Branch’s associates made several powerful connections after mentioning that she had been jumping out of airplanes since she was 14. People who have skydived (or are interested in trying) are instantly drawn to her—it’s like a built-in launching pad for cultivating a strong relationship.

 

Learnvest.com | July 22, 2014 | Molly Triffin