This document provides guidance on networking, including defining networking, outlining its benefits, and offering tips for networking events, elevator pitches, and following up. Networking is described as a support system for sharing information and opportunities among individuals and groups with common interests. Effective networking is important for developing relationships, career opportunities, knowledge resources, and getting plugged into a community. The document recommends having goals and dressing professionally for events, and gives suggestions for introductions, elevator pitches of 25-30 seconds, following up after events, and optimizing an online LinkedIn profile.

1. Hello! Nice to
Meet You:
Networking 101
Dubuque Circles Initiative
Leadership Track Series

2. What is Networking
O “To socialize for professional or personal
gain.”
O “A support system of sharing information
& services among individuals & groups
having a common interest.”

4. Benefits of Networking

5. Why Is It Important?
O Ultimately, it’s not about who you know,
but who knows you
O Relationships are the catalyst for success
O Get “plugged in” to your community
O Seek new career opportunities
O Develop knowledge resources

6. Going to a Networking Event
O Before You Go
O Have a goal
O Dress to impress
O Bring business cards
O While You’re There
O Make an effective introduction

7. The Elevator Pitch
O A quick way to communicate your
purpose, talents, and the mark you’d like
to make on the world
O Aims to pique someone’s interest and
entice them to learn more about you
O Absolutely no longer than 25-30 seconds
or 8-10 sentences

8. How to Make an Elevator Pitch
O About You
O Smile and open with a hook
O Tell who you are: describe you & your job
O Tell what you do & show enthusiasm
O What do You Offer
O Tell what problems have solved or
contributions you have made
O Offer a vivid example
O Tell why you are interested in your listener

9. How to Make an Elevator Pitch
O What are the Benefits
O Tell what very special service, product or
solutions you can offer him or her
O What are the advantages of working with
you?
O How do you do It
O Give a concrete example showing your
uniqueness
O Call for Action

10. Finetuning Your Pitch
O First write down all what comes up in your
mind
O Cut the jargon and details; make strong
short and powerful sentences
O Connect the phrases to each other
O Memorize key points and practice
O What’s in it for the listener?
O Create different versions for different
situations

11. At the Event
O Listen First, Then Speak
O Show Sincerity and Interest
O Get to the Point
O Take Notes

12. For The Shy People
O Start small
O Tap into your primal instincts
O Be yourself
O Ask for introductions
O Be prepared
O Follow up
O Get over your fear of rejection

13. After the Event
O Follow up!
O Make sure to personalize each email,
mentioning something that you talked
about
O Suggest any follow-up

14. Are You Networking Impaired?
O The formalist
O Focuses too heavily on company’s official
hierarchy, missing informal connections
O The overloaded manager
O Has so much contact with colleagues &
external ties that they bottleneck to progress
and burn out
O The disconnected expert
O Sticks with people who keep them focused on
safe, existing competencies, rather than those
who push them to build new skills

15. Are You Networking Impaired?
O The biased leader
O Relies on advisers much like themselves,
who reinforce their biases
O The superficial networker
O Engages in surface-level interaction with
as many people as possible, mistakenly
believing that a bigger network is better
O The chameleon
O Changes interests, values, and personality
to match those of whatever

16. Online Networking: LinkedIn
O Have an eye-catching headline
O Discuss accomplishments in more detail
than on your resume
O Have an up-to-date work history
O By typo-free and proofread by a friend or
mentor