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February 7, 2011
How NOT to Network
 Whether you’re looking for a job or moving up in your company, networking is an essential skill. Everywhere you look – from books to magazines – experts tell us how to network, but what about tactics we should avoid?
“If you only get in touch with a contact when you need something – a job, a reference, etc. – their desire to help you will be quickly vanish,” wains Monster.com. “Remember, these people are under no obligation to lend you a hand, they want to get something out of the relationship too.”
Missteps to avoid:
Telling someone you “Googled them” can be offsetting. Make sure your connections are meaningful. Avoid distorting the truth about how you found them. (Just because you have three friends in common on Facebook or LinkedIn does not mean you know them.)
Take your networking relationship beyond the Internet, avoid marketing yourself in other people’s personal pages and find a balance between work and personal information, says Bnet.com.
Bonus PINK Link: Whether you're networking via e-mail or social networks, here are 15 tactics to ensure that your online efforts create real-life results.
By Muriel Vega
"More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at
any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject." Unknown
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Comments
Great Insight!
Thank you for this! As a Business and Life Coach who often "teaches" clients how to network, these are great tips for anyone looking to expand their business or get a new job. Networking tends to freak people out but let's not forget that networking is just meeting people. If you find a reason to follow up with people, outside of business, it is easy to create relationships. Keith Ferrazzi's great book, "Never Eat Alone" is also a fantastic read for anyone looking to learn how to make networking more powerful...and easier.
**Bevin Lynch
www.BevinLynch.com
Details on where the jobs are for women now
Love your site, but while resourceful for adversting and information...it lacks some very important parts. Focus on the true areas of need for employment and where the current positions can be found. There are a lot of qualified, educated and value-adding unemployed people looking to your site to direct them.
Just a thought...currently working at the same company for ten years, but see a need in the workforce for better resources.
Thanks for all you do!