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1. Naft ClubProfessional & Social
Networking
Why, When, How?
Syd (Koorosh) Khalilinejad
October 02, 2014
University of Calgary, Alberta

2. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
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3. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
Trust

4. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
Why Trust is Important?
• Only when you trust,
– Would you buy,
– Would you invest,
– Would you register,
– Would you support,
– Would you take part,
– Would you believe in,
– Would you care to recommend or hire.

5. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
Experience and Knowledge lead to Trust
Experience
Knowledge
High profilers
Total stranger
Blind shots on LN
*** TRUST ***
Volunteer work
Workshops
Teambuilding
Branding
Some
Experience
Knowledge
New
Contact

6. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
When, Where?
• Always, everywhere (offline & online)
– School
• Classmates, functions, faculties, mentors
– Industry
• Colleagues, technical forums, seminars, volunteering, LN
– Social
• F&F, your ethnic social gatherings, volunteering, fb

7. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
How? (strategy)
• Remember, you are marketing your brand
• Develop your brand before you start networking
• Start with self-awareness
• Plan for balanced networking
• Find a mentor
– Identify areas of strength
– Understand areas for improvement
– Priorities
– Networking plan

8. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
How? (tactics)
• Be creative; blog, student clubs (Alliance in Marketing,
AIM)
• Luncheons, seminars, workshops, think thanks (e.g. SPE,
APEGA,…)
• Network in/out of your professional group
(ABB/ATCO/OFS/mfct, BI)
• It is a two way traffic; how do you add value?
• Has to be fun to continue; what are your hobbies?
• Tips;
– Never ask for a job
– English proficiency
– Be honest, genuine, fair, and polite
– Be patient; manage your expectations;

9. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
Balanced NetworkingBonding leads to trust and
caring; networking is a culture
family, friends, neighborhood
e.g. family & ethnic values
hobbies, social interests
e.g. sport, writing, campus activities
serious hobbies, community
e.g. sport, neighborhood, schooling, ethnic values
Childhood
Teen
College &
University
Adulthood hobbies, give back
e.g. sport, leisure, NGO, charity, mentoring
CommonalitiesPhase
---
professional activities
e.g. Young SPE
---
professional associations
e.g. APEGA, SPE, seminars, workshops
Social Professional

10. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
Self-Awareness
Your Profile
believes, culture, family, childhood, schooling,
education, parents, life experience, books, movies,
partner, risk profile, purpose of life, IQ, EQ, …
Your State
health, financial
state, self-
satisfaction, job
satisfaction, self-
acceptance,
energy level,
moral state, hope,
happiness, family
and partner
status, …

11. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
Toolbox: Social/Soft Skills
• Start with self-awareness
• Understand your cultural biases (profile)
– Smart, hard worker, ambition, team-player, patience,...
– Correct, improve, manage
• English proficiency (read, listen, and write)
• What are your hobbies?
• Think long term
• Be a giver first
• Are you a listener?
• Be innovative i.e. clubs, blogs, fb, etc.
• Be fun!

12. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
Toolbox: Hard Skills
• You
– Understand your strengths and weaknesses
– Understand what makes you feel happy and satisfied; find those roots; learn
how to capitalize on them (SWOT)
– Picture who you want to be, from who you are; then plan
– Not many can fake a profile; suggest not to
– Stay on the course; this is a journey, not a destination
• Target domain
– Learn your industry i.e. projects, companies, culture
– Understand industry expectations; understand job profiles and
requirements
• Bridge
– Map your technical skills/knowledge against profiles (gap analysis)
– Develop a transition plan to close the gap

13. Naft Club – Professional Networking www.NaftClub.org
Q/A
Optimize your profile
Develop a networking plan
Start networking