An Easy Guide to Networking During the Holidays!
The holidays are approaching quickly. You have already made a list to RSVP to holiday gatherings, do your holiday shopping, and plan your outfits. Why not add small talk preparation to your pre-party task list?
Networking may make you want to curl up in a ball in your holiday sweater and stay at home. The good news is we are not talking about making small talk, just about being polite. Take advantage of the holiday season where we spend more time with people outside of the office. Here are some tips we hope will help you network and excel at small-talk during your inevitable parties and holiday gatherings.
Focus Conversations: Don’t skip the details or avoid an opportunity to talk about work. You never know what opportunities might present themselves.
Be Intentional: Listen for connections. While it may be surprising, the holidays are a great time to network for career opportunities. If you are able to identify synergy with your personal network or if someone in your network happens to know someone that can help you, this is an organic or natural way to find your next role.
Accessible Resume: There are various technology options that can help you with making a resume easy to access. Dropbox, cloud storage, or a USB drive are some of the many options. You never know who you may run into.
Ask for an Introduction: If you happen to identify a possible connection in your field of interest or a field you are trying to get into, ask your friend or family member to make an introduction. New connections are likely to see you through a different lens if introduced by a trusted colleague.
Be Honest: Taking advantage of a friend's connection is a great way to network. If your friend or family member introduces, recommends, and/or vouches for you, be honest when talking about your experience and achievements. Inflating or exaggerating your skills and experience can harm any progress you make.
Follow-Up: Be sure to follow up on any leads as this part is often overlooked. Seek advice from your personal network to get insight on the best way to follow up with your newly introduced connection. Follow-up with your new connection the next business day, while it is fresh in their memory bank.
