Four Tips for Better Networking

Every week, professional organizations, civic clubs, community organizations and special interest groups hold meetings or networking events. Some are restricted to members, but many are open to the public. In the Philadelphia area, according to The Philadelphia Business Journal, there are over 50 networking events scheduled between September 13 and the end of 2011. These events are golden opportunities for job seekers to meet people from all walks of life and professions, make connections and find potential job opportunities. They offer exposure to business professionals at all organizational levels in a relaxed social environment.

You can make the most of these events with a little preparation, self-confidence and a sense of humor. Regardless of your job search situation and length of unemployment, your goal is not to put your not-more-than-two-page, flawless, professionally crafted resume into the hands of every potential employer present. Save the blanket resume distribution for the next job fair. Here are a few tips to maximize your effectiveness and leave a positive impression that invites inquiries.

1. Dress professionally. The longer you are unemployed, the more casual you may feel about getting dressed for a professional event. Men, a jacket is always correct, whether you’re dressing it up with a shirt and tie or down with an open-collared dress shirt or golf-style shirt. No jeans, sandals or running shoes, please. Women should dress conservatively, but with style. Again, jackets or jacket-style sweaters are always correct, as are suits, skirts, and dress shoes. Save the cleavage, bare arms, backs and bellies for the weekend at the beach.

2. Carry business contact cards. You can have these printed at an office supply store, on your home computer or from a variety of online sources, such as http://www.vistaprint.com/ for shipping cost alone. The card should be on a heavy stock paper, with no design or maybe just a simple graphic, and list all your contact information with credentials (MBA, PhD., SPHR). Hand them out as you would a company business card, after a promising conversation or by request.

3. Bring a few resumes, but keep them out of sight. You may find someone who is very interested and wants a resume to take with her for quick action. Bring a few in a portfolio for such a request.

4. Use a humorous introduction. With no company name to put on your nametag, try using “E.I.T” instead, which stands for ‘Executive in Transition.’ A guy used this at a networking event, and found it was a great icebreaker and humorous way to let people know he was looking for a job without actually saying it. It made everyone laugh, put people at ease and was a great way to bring up an otherwise embarrassing subject.

These are but a few networking tips to help you out at your next event. What are some great networking tips that you have learned during your job search? I would love to hear about them in the comments.

Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for phillyjobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing Alto II with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at phillyjobs.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.