Networking for Beginners

So, you keep hearing that you should be networking. But, you have no idea how or where to start. Here's your game plan.

1. Google "business calendar" for your town/city. You're likely to find a few business calendars with event listings. You can also try "business events" and other related words. Once you find sites that really give you what you are looking for, bookmark them so you don't have to google them again. If you don't know how to bookmark, use your "help" button near the top of your screen and type in "bookmark". (The help button is really helpful if you get in the habit of using it.)
2. Check out "meet ups" in your town/city. Go to http://www.meetup.com/ and then choose your city/town. Plug in search terms for hobbies or interests you have. Also, search on business events.
3. Check your local newspapers and bulletin boards at your favorite shops (coffee shops, libraries and co-ops or markets are big bulletin board spots) for events.
4. If you work full-time I suggest choosing one new event each week to attend. Once you go 2-3 times you'll know whether this is something you want to continue to attend. Give it a few chances because sometimes the crowd changes, topics or events are more or less interesting and every meeting can have one dud. Hang in there.
5. If you work part-time or not at all you need to be at a new event every single day. Yes, you read that right. When I started my business I was at at least two events each day, sometimes three. Doing that for 6 months gave my business the boost it needed and caught me up to competing businesses in the area that had been established.
6. Think about your introduction but not to the point it stresses you out. What do you want people to know about you the first time they meet you. Keep it simple and short. Make it interesting. Be personable (nice). Ask them about themselves- which takes the edge off of you. Remember that this isn't a sales pitch, its an introduction to you the person. They have to like and know you before they want to sit down and talk about business or how to help you find the right opportunity (job, lead, client, etc...). Be someone that they want to get to know better.
7. Take the first step and go to an event. You don't have to give a 10-minute speech, just go to the event. You'll see it gets easier the more often you go to them. You'll establish your own rhythm and the words will come based on your experiences and seeing/hearing others. Observe and absorb.

You can do it! In this climate, you must do it, if you want to make the most of your career/job search/business, etc... Networking can be the difference between success and failure. Trust me, I wasn't always the networker I am today, but I, like you, had to start somewhere.

More networking tips will come via my blog. This is just a starting point for beginners.

Earn Free Money While Supporting a Friend or Colleague

As a trusted reader of this blog, I am asking for your help in building the Champions Series (a low-cost monthly coaching program). For each Champion you refer you will receive either a free 30-minute call for yourself or a check for $50. It's that simple. When your referral signs up for the program I'll send you an email asking about which gift you would like. You can earn as much as you want by referring others. It really is that easy.

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Do someone a favor and suggest they join today. The application and more information about the series can be found on my website http://www.spahrconsulting.com/Champions.html


This offer expires November 30, 2010

Four Tips for the Current Job Market

Are you one of the newly unemployed? Have you been unemployed for more than 12 months? This advice is good for both groups- although some may not want to hear it.

There are jobs out there. I have clients getting jobs each week. I have employers coming to me and telling me about jobs they have and asking if I have a client to fill them. So, why are you still unemployed?

If you really want to get a job here are a few tips to get you there:

1. A resume is a good start but not the finish.
You must have a good solid vetted resume ready to go now. Have it ready to email via pdf format and have it ready to go in the postal mail, better yet UPS or FedEx or the ultimate hand-carry to your next job home. Your resume has to tell the hiring party why you are well qualified for the job and that you have skills that they desire. Keep the rest to a minimum and maximize impact by paying close attention to what they want and then addressing how you have all of that in your resume.

2. Don't neglect the cover letter. It's your "IN".
I helped a local non-profit hire for a few positions in the last few months. We had hundreds of applicants for each open position but at least half didn't even care enough to send a cover letter! Read that again. For me, as the hiring party, I put each of those resumes in the trash can (shredder really) without even a second glance. Your cover letter is your first impression and introduction to the hirer to let them know why they should even look at your resume and dare ask you in for an interview. Don't be lazy. Do your homework on the company, the position, key employees and then write a cover to dazzle.

3. Network. If you don't like it. Learn to. If you don't know how. Learn to. The calls I get from employers asking if I know a prize candidate are because of my relationships. You need to have them, relationships, many and strong. Get out of your house. Go to groups, meetings, coffee houses, .... Meet people and get to know them. Let them know you are looking and looking for what. If you do well networking you will have men and women all over the city looking for jobs for you.

4. Review all of my blog postings about employment and looking for jobs. I hate to repeat myself. There is some good and useful information throughout my postings over the years. Timeless information. So, keep reading.

If you want 3 more tips email me (and tell me about yourself in 3 sentences or less).

Flexibility in Schedules and Working at Home Opens You Up for Abuse

It's similar to the challenge that the single folks have at the office. Everyone expects them to work overtime, late and on weekends. After all, what do they have better to do?! The rest of us have families for Pete's sake! :)  I say this tongue in cheek because I used to hate when I heard or saw this argument in action. It is so unfair and judgemental. Not to mention plum wrong!

Well, today's "work at home" or "flex schedule" person has it the same. Everyone expects him (or most likely, her) to be able to drop everything and do a volunteer act/duty or run an errand. The same lame argument tries to hold here- they can move their schedule around easier. 9-5ers or office folks say, "I can't leave the office or I would." Or, "I have to work" as though the work of the home worker or flex schedule guy or gal is lesser work.

Adjusting to working at home takes time and discipline. Some can't do it for that reason. You have to treat it the same as having an office. When you do, you'll often find you get more done in a day than anyone who is at the office because you reduce your distractions and use time more effectively (if you stay away from the t.v. and refrigerator).

Don't allow others to railroad your time just because you don't have a traditional position or setting as they do. Your work is equally important, perhaps more so given that you may not be on the clock consistently but rather providing a billable service only when actively supporting a project (time is really money then). Stand firm in telling them you work too and you have deadlines that must be met. And, you aren't at others beck and call. Go ahead, shout it from the rooftops (on a break of course).

And if you are a single woman who works at home with a flexible schedule- my hat is off to you. Have a glass of your favorite beverage on me this evening and know I celebrate you (and promise not to ask you to run the fundraiser yourself!).

Lost in Translation... Email, Texting, Tweeting and the Like

Now that more and more people are texting, emailing, tweeting, and so on... it would be fair to say that communication will never be the same as it once was with good ole Alexander Graham Bell (the inventor of the telephone for the youngsters who may not be aware of who he is).

Consider what text gives you that voice does not:

• storage and retrieval: the ability to review over and over what was written (and not get the words wrong, although meaning is another story)
• flexibility: read it anytime, day or night; respond to it anytime, day or night
• megaphone to the masses: you can say it to thousands at once

Now, what does voice give you that texting does not:

• clearer interpretation: through tone and inflection

It may be one bullet but it's a biggie. How many times have you read an email, text, or tweet and thought the person was being sarcastic, angry, snooty, or otherwise obnoxious? Maybe they were but maybe they weren't. There is a danger in text alone. It fails to include the tone, pitch and/or inflection that makes it our voice. An exclamation point (!) can be taken several ways in text: anger, excitement, yelling, etc... And, speaking of yelling, how about those ALL CAPS THAT SOME PEOPLE USE. How do we feel about those? What do you think they are trying to convey? It's usually their inability to know where the CAPS key is or how it got turned on. But sometimes you may think it's due to the fact they think it makes their content appear that more important or that they are screaming. As a rule, I'd advise never to use ALL CAPS.

Look at your outgoing emails a little more carefully this week. Could any of them be confusing to a reader- as to your intent or meaning? How about those you receive? Before getting mad at your assumption of intention in another's emails, ask them to make sure you got it right. If you think they are mad ask them if they are, before you respond.

Happy emailing, texting, tweeting and the like. Just do it with the knowledge that it doesn't capture the whole you. Sometimes the joke gets lost. Or the seriousness is missed. Writer beware.

Jay-Z Example Follows What I've Always Said... Show Me

Forbes put out their issue with the top billionaires in the country. Always a good read. More interestingly was a meeting, hosted by Steve Forbes, with Jay-Z and Warren Buffett (not to be confused with Jimmy Buffett for those who are less in the know). The two men compared notes on what has driven their success.

Jay-Z highlighted a sixth grade teacher who saw something in him and paid extra attention to him (not in a creepy way I suppose). She took the children on a field trip to her home (must be some home). He was enamored with the ice machine on the face of the refrigerator (I too have had this intrigue, mine was more so with the water than the ice). He decided that he wanted to have an ice machine on the face of his refrigerator one day. Good call. (Although keep in mind that room temperature beverages are better for your health Jay!)

His story illustrates something that has been close to my heart for many years now. SHOW people what exists out there rather than just talk about it. Don't just tell you kids to go to college. Introduce them to people who have. Take them to college campuses. Investigate how to get there (together) and make it happen. Tell your children what a big world out there it is, but show them too! Give them a map and learn about other countries together. Find a pen pal for them across the globe. This goes for adults too. If someone has an addiction, it's one thing to tell them to stop or tell them you know they can do it. It's an entirely different thing to help them by introducing them to people who have, places they can get help or a book filled the people's stories who have been there.

Do more than just talk. Show people what you are talking about. You may learn a thing or two in the lesson.

For the full article: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/1011/rich-list-10-omaha-warren-buffett-jay-z-steve-forbes-summit-interview.html