Networking for introverts
If you are an introvert, a bit shy or really anything other than a mega-social butterfly you probably hate networking. But given that the job market has achieved record levels of suck there might not be many options left. Money Magazine steps in with a great article about how to network if you hate networking. I recommend that you read the article in full, but you can also check out my executive summary below.
Working a room
- Scope out the scene before you get there
- Get their early (It’s easier to socialize when there are less people around)
- Bring a wingman (especially if they are more social than you)
I really like the one about showing up early. It’s the easiest to do and I can attest to the fact that conversing with new people is so much easier when the room isn’t full yet. Alternatively you could stay late and try to network with all the night owls.
One-on-one communication
- Keep in touch when times are good.
- Schedule a lunch or brunch.
- Get the other person talking.
- Give now to hopefully get later.
A pretty good collection, but some are kind of hard to do. Keeping in touch with a bunch of people that you don’t really have any need to keep up with almost seems to require a schedule to pull off successfully.
Online (Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
- Only friend people you’ve met.
- Get introduced to people who could be useful in your career.
- Give status updates (but make sure that they are meaningful. e.g. I’m attending XYZ Conference, not I’m at home petting the cat)
Just remember to keep your personal and professional networks separate. The last thing you need is for your professional contacts to see all those crazy pictures of you that your friends are posting.
The even have a list of five icebreakers that you can use while meeting people:
1. How did you land your job?
2. What do you like most about your job?
3. If you weren’t in your current career, what would you be doing?
4. What industry websites or blogs are must-reads for you?
5. Who is your scariest competitor, and why?
I love 1 and 2 on this list because they can be used in pretty much any setting. You could even use them on job interviews as questions to ask your interviewer.
