Archive for October, 2009

I am currently attending my 25th college reunion at Stanford University. It is day #3 of a 4-day extravaganza. Stanford really knows how to host a grand event.

My goal for attending this reunion was to reconnect with old friends and to make new connections that might potentially develop into mutually beneficial relationships. I have long overlooked the rich resource of connections from my college days. I fully intend to reclaim my lost network and invest more time cultivating relationships with these intelligent, resourceful and motivated classmates. I encourage you to do the same.

I also had the opportunity to attend two special events facilitated by classmate Andy Chan. (see photo to right) Andy had run career services for Stanford Business School for several years until he was recently whisked away by Wake Forest University to build an exciting new platform of integrating personal and professional development into the college experience.

1. Career and Life Visioning workshop
2. Career Networking event

While attending Andy’s group networking event, I made several terrific new contacts that I am motivated to develop into potential relationships. I also gained a few new insights from Andy about networking, what it is and what it isn’t and how to do it even better. I felt compelled to share what I learned from Andy with all of you.

One of Andy’s insights about career development is that networking is like gardening. Read more about this relevant and important metaphor and how you could be networking more effectively. Gain pearls of wisdom about networking from Andy Chan:

You Can Always Go Flip Hamburgers…but should you?

Here’s some sound advice for highly experienced, out of work professionals from Nancy Anton, Voice on Recruiting. Download her full article Taking an entry level job just to get back to work

“I often hear people in transition say, ‘I guess I could always go back to where I started and get an entry level position.’ From watching many people through transition make decisions like this I have viewed some successes and some disasters.

Hiring managers usually aren’t attracted to those who would like to be considered for an entry level position after having years of experience.

Here’s why…

A manager would like a candidate to grow with the job, find it interesting and challenging. Those that are high potential candidates and on the growth track are most desirable. We want to hire those who take a position that makes sense in their overall career growth. Seldom do candidates who are taking a step backward have the ability to sell a manager on their worth.

Just a year ago, we all strongly believed good people didn’t get laid off, companies kept their best. Of course, this isn’t true any longer, but have the hiring managers changed the way they think? Would they need too?

Most likely the perfect candidate is now available, with the perfect amount of experience. What would you do as a manager? Take a risk on someone who may not be happy or hire the one who will be taking the next logical step in their career?  The risk of losing the candidate that is over qualified is huge.”

Download the full article from Nancy Anton entitled Taking an entry level job just to get back to work

Of course they do. Men and women think differently; They communicate differently; and men and women relate differently to people and events. Even their brains  work differently. (see John Medina’s book Brain Rules – chapter on gender differences).

Occasionally during my workshops on networking skill development, a man will ask me if my networking methods and techniques are more effective with women.

It has been my observation that women tend to build relationships through conversation, while men tend to build relationships through activity. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that golf remains one of the most compelling “venues” for men to network and build business relationships.

Spending quality time with people of influence

There is power in the game of golf, notably the opportunity to spend quality time with people of influence. Read more…

Talking to strangers is good for you, your business and your career!

One of my favorite books on networking is from Keith Ferrazzi. It’s called Never Eat Alone and other secrets to success one relationships at a time.

It made me think more deeply about building a more powerful network by fully leveraging my present network, re-activating my past network, and yes, talking to strangers.

It’s worked for me. If this is something that you need to do as well, click through for some practical networking tips to help you get started right now.

…about networking at least. Your mother’s intention in telling you not to talk to strangers was to protect from bad people and bad things happening.

The intention of this article is to show how networking (even with strangers) can bring good people into your life and create good things for you and your business.

Why talk to strangers? Your future success will depend on more than just what you know; it will rely on who you know. Read more…. Read the rest of this entry »