There are hundreds – indeed thousands – of jobs advertised on the internet every day. But searching online should not be your only strategy for job hunting. Don’t discount the potential of networking.
Take stock of your business contacts, who are your confidants, mentors? Who do you know and what do they do? Do you belong to professional networking groups or Chamber of commerce in your areas? LinkedIn is one of such business networking sites that comes to mind.
Prior to attending a networking event, decide what reward you are going to give yourself for speaking/introducing yourself to at least three to five people and for staying longer than you plan. And be sure you withhold the reward if you do not meet your goal.
When I first started attending business networking events I used to feel exactly the same when it came to presenting my sixty seconds (or elevator pitch as some call it). The vast majority of my business is gained through networking so it’s an essential part of my daily routine. Fortunately I’ve managed to overcome my fear of presenting with these two great business professional networking group.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Kathie Thomas, the founder of the Virtual Assistant industry in Australia, in a live tele-seminar for Wonderful Web Women. I asked Kathie to share with us where software defined networking she suggested you should start if you intend to become a Virtual Assistant. Here are Kathie’s tips.
My intentions with all these truths is definitely not to discourage you from starting your own business, but to prepare you for the truth of what lies ahead. Success will not come easily or quickly. It is a long, hard, frustrating journey to success. But, if you want it bad enough and possess the qualities needed to finish the journey, success can be yours!!
Effectiveness: Do not try to join all the possible networks, as you will not have the time to maintain all of them. Likewise, do not join all the groups that you come across within the networks, either. Choose only a few groups that suit your interests.
I had no motivation to be a success with those people. I advise you take a moment and figure out how you are helping those people you brought on board. What motivation are you giving them to make the business work? Help them and it helps you. This may take some personal development and further education on your part, but it will pay off greatly in the end.
The next time you set aside your valuable to time to meet with someone, block out at least two hours. Converse about a business idea or ideal you both care about. I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ebb and flow of the conversation. Wait at least three seconds before responding. Watch the shift in both of you. The opposite of talking isn’t listening, it’s waiting. In this context, what you have to say will be worth the wait.