Friday, May 9, 2014

PERSONAL SPECIAL ......................THE SUBTLE ART OF NETWORKING



 THE SUBTLE ART OF NETWORKING 

NETWORKING IS ALL ABOUT BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP:
A relationship takes time. A series of communication helps establish a baseline of whether there is synergy in values. So the first principle is to make a connection. Never send a mass email as most email engines smartly bucket the messages under a spam folder.
THE SECOND PRINCIPLE OF NETWORKING IS PATIENCE:
James (name changed) was a highly motivated and successful sales leader. He landed some key accounts - he did not barge into the customer’s office demanding he needs a deal — he patiently built the connection. A major customer told him the spending budget was frozen and it was unclear when it would be available. James kept in touch and created a “recall value” for himself. When the budget freeze was lifted in the new fiscal year, the customer was chasing James who was on vacation at that time, to sign the deal. Many job seekers make the mistake of contacting for a position. They cross off the contact or company when they find there is no open position at the moment.
BE HUMBLE IF APPROACHED:
Sometimes networking happens from the company to the prospective employee - someone in the company knows you or has come across your work or seen you speak at a conference - you may be well-settled in your current job and not looking for a change. Always be respectful and use this opportunity to build your network.
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME:
It’s all about me—let’s talk me, me, me—I need the job, so let’s talk about what you, dear company, can do for me—right? Wrong! Companies are looking for value propositions. What can you bring to the table? Unique international background, a critical skill, which is known to be in shortage or a certification in demand? Can you turn around complex business scenario or start up a Greenfield operation from scratch?
BE CONCISE:
Be concise. In a challenging economy, you only have a few seconds to grab the attention—your first line and the first few words determine the trajectory of your email. A well-written message would introduce you; have a line on what you have to offer, what motivated you to write and finally a line on the next steps.
NETWORK WHEN THE GOING IS GOOD:
Many network when they really need a new job - the best time to network is when you are at your peak performance. Secondly, networking should be done with the aim of building a long-term working relationship, not just landing a job. This has two advantages—one you come across as more confident as you have nothing to lose and second you have the luxury of timewith time comes patience and with patience, a good network.
 
Vineet Gambhir, VP &  Head of Talent APAC,  Yahoo
ETF140429

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