This document provides tips and strategies for becoming an effective networker. It discusses perfecting an elevator pitch, retaining contact information, following up with connections, managing a network, leveraging connections, tips for shy networkers, and 4 ways to start networking such as joining associations, using social media, finding a mentor, and making direct contact. The overall message is that networking is about creating mutually beneficial relationships and maintaining contact to find job opportunities.

1. Become a
Networking Rockstar
Presented by:
Heather R. Huhman

2. Who am I?
 Founder & president of Come Recommended
– Career and workplace education and consulting
firm specializing in young professionals
– ComeRecommended.com is a social networking
site for internship and entry-level job candidates
and employers
 Entry-level careers columnist for
Examiner.com
 Career expert for a number of other orgs

3. What is Networking?
 Creating a two-way, mutually beneficial
relationship between yourself and a
connection
 Just because you follow someone on Twitter,
read their blog or friend them on Facebook
does not mean you are reaching that end goal.
Networking goes beyond the initial meeting,
whether online or offline.

4. Networking Statistics
 70-80% of jobs are filled through networking
– Employee referrals
– Unadvertised openings
– Connections with hiring managers/CEOs

5. What We’ll Cover
 Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
 Retaining Information
 The Importance of Follow-Up
 Managing Your Network
 Leveraging Your Network
 Tips for Shy Networkers
 4 Ways To Start Networking

6. Perfecting Your
Elevator Pitch

7. Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
 Elevator pitch = a short sound bite where you
explain who you are and what you’re seeking
 Typically 30-60 seconds or 150-200 words
 Keep it short & concise in order to hold your
listener’s attention but still get enough
information out to them

8. Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
 Comes in handy at networking events or
when meeting hiring managers and
recruiters
 Helps you answer the interview question “Tell
me about yourself”
 Share a story
– Mention past accomplishments and goals you’ve
reached (but be concise!)

9. Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
 What to include:
– Your name (if meeting for the first time)
– Current status:
• Are you looking for a job?
• Currently employed but looking to transition?
– What you seek:
• A job? A different field?
– Your experience, qualifications & passions
– Call to action

10. Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
 Your pitch might look something like this:
– Hi, my name is (your name). I will be graduating/I
just graduated from (your school) with a degree
in (major/minor). I’m looking to (future
plans/goals). I recently ___. Can I take you out for
coffee sometime to elicit your advice?

11. Retaining Information

12. Retaining Information
 When you meet someone & get their
business card, take a few notes on the back to
remember important parts of your
conversation
 You can also create Twitter lists or
spreadsheets of important contacts to
remember key information (such as
title/position, company, things in common,
etc.)

13. The Importance of
Follow-Up

14. The Importance of Follow-Up
 No matter where you meet someone, the
only real way to bring them into your
network is by keeping in contact with them
 After your first meeting, follow-up with them
by:
– Asking him/her out to lunch or coffee
– Sending an e-mail
– Engaging with him/her on social networking
sites

15. The Importance of Follow-Up
 It’s important to keep in touch with your
contacts
– You know that it’s easy to forget someone if you
don’t hear from them in a while, so don’t let
people forget about you!

16. Managing Your Network

17. Managing Your Network
 Prioritize your contacts based on who you
want to keep in touch with and how often
– Tool: Gist.com
 Add contacts in your address book, social
networking sites & phone book

18. Leveraging Your Network

19. Leveraging Your Network
 Master the “art of the ask”
– Smart networkers know the strategies for
determining what to ask for, who to ask, and how
to ask for any goal they want to achieve
– Help can come almost immediately if you’ve laid
the groundwork correctly

20. Leveraging Your Network
 Don’t just send an e-mail saying, “Hey, I’d like
to meet to talk about job opportunities at
your company. Are you free tomorrow?”
 Instead, say, “I’m really interested in taking my
marketing degree into the fashion world.
Would you be open to a quick phone call or a
brief meeting sometime to share insights on
how you did it?”

21. Leveraging Your Network
 Take cues from your contacts
– If you ask for a meeting and they’re more
comfortable with a short phone call, take it
 Come prepared with good questions

22. Tips for Shy Networkers

23. Tips for Shy Networkers
 Attend events with an outgoing friend
 Reconnect with those who you already know
(former classmates, professors, neighbors,
etc.)
 Ask your current contacts to introduce you to
someone they know
 Start the conversation online and eventually
take it offline

24. 4 Ways to
Start Networking

25. 4 Ways to Start Networking
 Make direct contact
– Research organizations where you’d like to work
and reach out directly to a C-level executive (i.e.,
CEO, president, etc.)
 Join professional associations
– As a student or young professional, you often can
get discounted rates
– Get the most out of it: regularly attend meetings,
become an officer & volunteer during events

26. 4 Ways to Start Networking
 Use social networking sites
– Seek out interesting people, interact with them &
strive to take the relationship offline
– Keep your profiles consistent, on-brand &
genuine
– Don’t just “friend” people – networking is about
building a relationship with your contacts

27. 4 Ways to Start Networking
 Find a mentor
– Look to existing relationships (professors,
acquaintances, professionals, etc.)
– Gain advice and insight into your field and career
– Connect with other professionals that your
mentor can introduce you to

28. Questions?
Heather R. Huhman
Founder & President
Come Recommended
www.comerecommended.com
heather@comerecommended.com
Twitter: @heatherhuhman