Meet Up!

Meet Up is a website that helps connect like-minded or like-interested people.  You can register for free for a Meet Up account, set up your preferences and peruse events in your area.  There are groups for professionals, networking, religious fellowship, fitness and so on and so on.  

Whatever your interest, there probably is a Meet Up group for you. And if there isn’t, you can easily start your own.  

The Brunswick Le Tip chapter I am a part of uses Meet Up every week to plan breakfast meetings, invite prospective members and rsvp guests.  It has been a great tool for networking.

Try making Meet Up a part of your networking plan!

Alumni, Alumnae, Alumna, Alumnus?

As summer comes to a close and those lucky college kids head back to campus, make sure you have updated your alma mater with your latest contact information.  Be certain that you have subscribed to their mailing lists so you don’t miss out on any networking opportunities geared specifically toward their alumni.  

For the record, the correct references are:

Alumna: female, singular  

Alumnus: male, singular

Alumnae: female, plural

Alumni: male, plural

Give your Alumni Association a call today!

Networking in Your Neighborhood

Perhaps you moved back home after graduation and you are living in your hometown.

Maybe you moved to new city and you are still getting settled.

Whatever your location, there are a wealth of opportunities in your neighborhood to expand your network.

-Volunteering with a local organization

-Sit on a fundraising committee

-Attending civic functions such as town council meetings or meet the mayor events

-Joining a local religious organization such a church or temple

-Attend networking happy hours at local bars or restaurants

Do your research and you will find you have a full social AND networking calendar!

Not A People Person?

“I’m a people person!”  He proclaims brightly, with an eager smile.

We all know that person.  The life of the party.  The chatty conversationalist.  For someone like him or her, networking isn’t something to be feared, it’s just another conversation.

They might even look forward to attending a networking event.

But what about the rest of us?

What about the introverts among us, who still need to network for career success?

Ruth Carter offers her advice here in the Introvert’s Survival Guide.  


Are you an introvert? What do you find works for you?

Will Network for Work

If you are currently searching for a job in a particular industry, you may find that your options for networking events are overwhelming.  

There are local, county and state professional associations.  There are networking groups within religious organizations.  There are civil groups such as your local or county chamber of commerce.  There are regional alumni groups.  There are meetups and start ups.  There are breakfast meetings, lunch meetings, and happy hours.  

You have a limited budget of both time and money.  You must decide where you will spend your time networking.  

But, where do you begin?

Start by looking to the leaders in your field.  To which organizations do they belong?  What committees do they join?

Reach out to people who are doing what you would like to do.  Ask their advice.

Attend multiple meetings and talk to people.  Ask them what they like about the organization and what they take away from it.

Slowly narrow down your organizations to a manageable group of organizations to which you can truly commit your time.

What organizations do you find most valuable to your job search?

When Do You Network?

If you’ve read my book or followed by blog, you know that my favorite answer is every day!  

Whether you have a full-time job, or are searching for the same, you may have noticed that there are many networking breakfast meetings.  

If the thought of waking up an extra hour early to network makes you hide your head under the covers, you may want to think again.

Breakfast meetings are popular because they start before the regular workday.  Before the office is open, before clients or customers start calling, you can attend an event once a week or once a month to boost your career.

But, you may be thinking, that’s SO early.

True.  

But, according to this interesting article by Inc.Com, successful people are more likely to be up earlier.  Whether they are getting into the office before the phones are ringing, finishing up a writing project or networking, there is evidence that suggests getting up earlier is the secret to success.  

What do you think? Will you be getting up earlier and giving this a try?

Mani/Pedi Networking

I love a nice manicure and pedicure.  It’s a time to relax, slow down and be pampered.  

According to the Wall Street Journal’s Jo Piazza, “Manicure Meetings” are more and more common among women in New York.  It’s the professional woman’s answer to the boy’s club bonding over the 9th hole.  At the nail salon, Piazza points out, you can’t reach for your phone to check your messages.  You can’t jump out of a meeting to answer an important email.  You have to engage, listen and contribute to conversation.

I know I would happily attend an evening meeting if it was a mani meeting.

As someone who truly appreciates the value of networking, I would love to see this taken in another direction as well.  Instead of a cocktail networking meeting or early morning breakfast meeting, what about a mani/pedi/networking event?  Here are my top five reasons for why I think this innovative event would be successful:

1. You can’t help but be relaxed as you network--you’re being pampered;

2. It’s something different, so different that the event in itself would spark conversation;

3.  It’s an event that supports small businesses;

4. You can’t check your phone, emails, texts etc. while your nails are dry; and

5. It would help to build stronger community ties by hosting events where you live and work.

What do you think?


Read more about Jo Piazza's article here.

Choosing How to Spend Your Networking Time

To be successful, networking takes time and commitment.

If you are unemployed, you have to search for jobs, send resumes, draft cover letters and prepare for interviews.

If you are employed, you have to commute to work, put in a full day of work and commute home.  You may even be taking work home with you.

In addition to spending time with your family and friends, making time for hobbies, sleeping and eating, it seems that you may not have a lot of spare time for networking.

Make a networking plan that fits your lifestyle.  I suggest the following:

Join a local organization or association within your industry.  This is a great place to meet potential employers and colleagues while staying up-to-date on the latest developments in your field.  The frequency of these meetings varies, but most will meet once a month and have committees that meet a bit more often.

Join an organization or group outside of your industry.  Whether you join a soccer team or a book club, choose something that speaks to you.  You may wish to pursue a hobby or a talent.  Why not do so and network at the same time?

Finally, make time for volunteer work.  Whether you do volunteer work within one of the above groups or you volunteer with another organization, take the opportunity to give back. 

The People That You Meet When You Network

No matter where you choose to spend your time networking, you will likely meet a few characters at each event you attend.  Here are just a few generalizations (and exaggerations) of people you may encounter and some strategies for succeeding in your interactions with them.  

The Overachiever

You are chatting about your plans for the summer when the person you are speaking to mentions his plans.  “I’m currently working on the next Presidential campaign and working to establish a school for children in Africa.  Of course, I’m hoping to launch my start-up this summer as well…”  I need a vacation just listening to his summer plans. 

First and foremost, don’t feel inadequate.  These are his plans and not yours for a reason.  He has had to sacrifice A LOT to accomplish his summer plans.  Compliment him and wish him the best of luck with his endeavors.

If these plans were expressed with a snarky smirk and a withering gaze at you, smile and wish him the best of luck.  He’s going to need it with that kind of attitude.

The Downer

Remember Debbie Downer from Saturday Night Live?

She may be at your next networking event.

You smile and introduce yourself.  You get a sigh and half-hearted handshake.  You try to make small talk.  

You ask her if she played any sports in college.  She says, “Yes, until I blew out my knee and lost my scholarship.”  You appropriately say, “I am sorry to hear that.” You ask her what type of work she does and she responds, “I’m unemployed now.  I can’t find a job.  This economy sucks.”

This is where it gets dangerous.  If you aren’t careful, this Downer has the potential to ruin your positive attitude.  Don’t let her.  Don’t feed into her negativity.  Smile and stay positive.  Tell her that there are great opportunities to meet people at this event.  Wish her the best and move on.

The Criticizer

The Criticizer is the cousin of the Downer. 

The Criticizer is the person complaining about the food, the drinks, the location, and the company.  Avoid the Criticizer at all costs.

You don’t want to be associated with someone who is not only negative, but also unkind.  Excuse yourself from conversation with the Criticizer as politely as possible, keeping in mind that he will criticize you when you walk away anyway.  Don’t give him any ammunition.

The Barnacle

When you are at a networking event, you want to meet as many as people as possible in a meaningful way.  It’s not a good idea to speak with one person for 20 minutes at a networking event.  If your connection is that great, you should suggest meeting up for coffee.

The Barnacle is a fellow networker who doesn’t want to leave your side.  You introduced yourself and find that the Barnacle is now following you.  What do you do?

Realize that he or she is probably extremely nervous about meeting people.  Be kind.  Excuse yourself and explain there are a few people I need to speak with tonight.  Exchange business cards.  Suggest someone with whom he or she should talk and if possible make the introduction.

These are, as I mentioned, generalizations and exaggerations of the people that you may encounter when you network.  The most important thing to keep in mind, even more than avoiding or excusing yourself from a conversation with these types of people, is not to BE like any of these networkers.

Stay positive, be kind, and happy networking!

Learn While You Network

Learning or improving a new skill can improve your career prospects.  It can make you more marketable to potential employers are more essential to your current employer.

Learning a new skill can also expand your network.


Sign up for a seminar that interests you.  Perhaps you want to improve your graphic design skills with a course in Adobe Photoshop.  Maybe you would like to improve your public speaking skills.  Or, perhaps your local professional association is hosting a seminar that will improve your knowledge in a particular area.

Before you attend, research the topic and speakers.  Jot down a few questions that you would like to ask.  At the seminar, keep your questions nearby and be sure to write down answers if the questions happen to be addressed. As the seminar progresses, write down additional questions that you may have.

While at the seminar, put your cell phone away.  Introduce yourself to the other attendees.  Exchange business cards.  Make small talk.

If the seminar format permits, ask intelligent questions. After the seminar, introduce yourself to the speakers, thank them for their time and ask to exchange contact information. Explain your situation.  Are you new to the industry?  Are you seeking to specialize in their field? Follow-up with the speakers that you meet by sending an email to thank them again for an entertaining and educational seminar.

Make it a point to expand your skills and your network by attending a seminar regularly.  Once a month would be great, but simply is not possible for everyone.  If money or time does not permit, set an attendance schedule that works for you.

Expand your skills and expand your network by signing up for a seminar today!

A Little Something

If you ever been to an event with networking in the title, you have probably been asked to share a little something.

Are you breaking out in a sweat yet?

Many networking events begin with an icebreaker.  The most common icebreaker is to go around the room and have everyone stand up, give an introduction and say a little something about themselves.

What should you say?  How much should you share?

Be prepared before you go to your next networking event by creating a standard little something about yourself using this easy to use formula.

Your name, educational background, what you’re looking for and some way that you spend your time, such as a hobby or volunteer work.

For example: My name is Caroline Jones.  I recently graduated from State University with a degree in business.  I would really like to find a position in the financial services industry.  In my spare time, I love to play soccer.

Practice your little something and you’ll be calm, cool and collected at your next networking event. 

Wagner College Student-Alumni Networking Event

About a month ago, I had the opportunity to return to Wagner College to attend a networking event.  Returning to campus as a professional was a new experience.  I didn’t quite know what to expect. 

I was blown away by the students and alumni that I met.

The students I met were accomplished and eager to take on new challenges.  They were inquisitive about what they could do to build their network and forge their career path.  here were students from arts and science backgrounds. There were students who worked on political campaigns and interned with television networks.  There were students from Staten Island and around the world.   

It was quite a dynamic group!  With my background as an attorney, I was uncertain if the science majors would be interested in speaking to me about networking, or if they would avert their eyes.

My science background is limited. At best.

But they were very welcoming and had interesting questions.  I was struck by the question one group of students from different science majors asked me:

“We’re starting to realize that we need to look outside the box, where do you think we should we be looking for jobs?”

My science background may be limited, but my networking, job search, and creative career formulation background is ever expanding.

In a tight job market where there is often talk of a surplus or saturation of a particular group of professions, there is great opportunity for employment within the services that meet the demands of this saturated group.

For example, there has been much in the news about the surplus of attorneys throughout the United States.  

While this news might be troubling to the new law graduate, there is great opportunity to work for a company or industry that supports attorneys.  Attorneys require malpractice insurance, continuing education, paralegals, banking and marketing professionals. 

This is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door with a company who works in insurance, education, banking and marketing.  It is also an opportunity to pursue a career as a paralegal or legal assistant. 

But the science majors I met weren’t interested in the attorney surplus.  

For the science majors I spoke to, I suggested looking to companies that work with scientists such as the companies that create the products and lab equipment scientists need. 

Of course, I didn’t stop there.

There may be opportunities within companies that publish science books, magazines and periodicals. 

Lobbying and advocacy groups may be looking for researchers with a science background. 

There may be opportunities to work with lobbying or advocacy groups. 

Universities with large science programs are often looking for program coordinators and grants managers with science backgrounds to support their work. 

Of course, like many majors, you are only qualified for so many positions with a Bachelors degree.  You may need to further your education to be a candidate for the type of position you really want.  Taking some time to work within your field before graduate school will give you time to get a better of idea of what that position might be. 

It will also give you a great network of colleagues you can reach out to when you graduate. 

Many thanks to Wagner College's Career Services Office for putting together such a great event!