Three Reasons Why Your Networking is Not Working

amp8220Everyone you need to know you already knowamp8221Think about it All of the people around you your friends your friendsamp8217 parents your professors the successful lawyer couple down the street or the notable journalists at your schoolamp8217s media event are all people that could either directly help you or know someone that couldWhether you are looking for an internship in the middle of one or just wrapped one up itamp8217s important to evaluate your current network If you are struggling to meet and maintain relationships with influencers youamp8217d like to network with read the following three reasons why you may not have had them at amp8220helloamp8221You donamp8217t have an elevator speechIf you donamp8217t know what an elevator speech is take its meaning literally Itamp8217s the short summary spoken to describe themselves to others in a limited amount of time ie an elevator ride The reason why creating and practicing an elevator speech is important is because you donamp8217t want to ramble upon an introduction You want to clearly and concisely introduce yourself by name what you dowhere you go to school and what your added value is in other words what sets you apart If you donamp8217t already have an elevator speech established your initial networking introduction could sound unconfident with a lack of preparation Give the person you want to speak with a reason to hear you outYou talk too muchDo you talk a lot Even if you donamp8217t think you do when people get nervous they tend to not only talk faster but they also talk more The quality of what you are saying is far more important than the number of things you can rattle off about yourself Instead let the person on the other side do most of the talking Ask thoughtful openended questions and actually absorb what they have to say Many students tend to forget the importance of listening because they feel that they need to say a lot about themselves in a short amount of time to network effectively False Focus on making an impression by simply listening and asking more questions After all youamp8217re there to learn about them not verbalize your most updated resumeYou donamp8217t follow upThe meaning of networking is so loosely defined because some students think that if they receive a business card at a career fair theyamp8217ve successfully networked I hate to burst your bubble but networking takes a bit more effort than that After you meet someone reach out to them shortly after to thank them for their time This is the chance where you can establish meaningful relationships with people that can help you during your school internships career and beyond It only takes 30 seconds to introduce yourself to someone and put their business card in your pocket but it takes substantially longer to retrieve that card compose an email with thoughtful questions and a time to followup in person or over the phone spellcheck the email and send it The followup sets apart the students that take the time to build a network for their future from the students that just want quick and easy resultsNetworking doesnamp8217t have to be a formal event with professionals in suits and stacks of resumes in hand The act of meeting someone and establishing a beneficiary and valuable relationship can take place at the coffee shop the gym and yes in an elevator Itamp8217s up to you to make the most of the people around you because letamp8217s face it they know someone that youamp8217d really like to knowThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Media Village management or associated bloggersamp160amp160

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Three Reasons Why Your Networking is Not Working

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Sydney Fulkerson

Hispanic Leadership Roundtable: Inclusion, Mentorship, and Building the Next Generation (Video) - By Juan Ayala

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Three Reasons Why Your Networking is Not Working

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Sydney Fulkerson

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