By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
It really isn’t difficult to network. It’s like putting money in the bank.
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I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, the head coach for JobSearch.Community. That’s a site with curated information that you can watch, listen to or read that will help you find work more quickly. Whether you’re job hunting, whether you’re building a business, you know that networking is an important way that you can grow your business or find a job. It’s so people make the time to do it.
And that is really the theme of this video is three things that you need to do in order to network effectively. And the number one thing starts off with, as I mentioned in passing there, making the time. You know, it just has to be part of your calendar that you put yourself into situations where you can network.
So, number one starts off with, you have to make time. Because otherwise, what happens? Frankly, a network isn’t one. People don’t have that relationship.
And that really is what networking is about is cultivating relationship. How do you cultivate a relationship? Well, that comes to the second point. You have to stay in touch with people.
After all, if you don’t talk to someone for 20 years, how likely are they to do anything to help you? I’m LinkedIn member 7653. Yeah, I was there very early on. Hundreds of millions of people later, I get lots of connection requests from people who do nothing more than connect with me.
And really, if they do reach out to me, their first message is, hey, will you buy what I’m selling? So, they don’t really try and connect. They don’t really try to develop a relationship. And in trying to build a relationship, it’s invariably, hey, can I spend 20 minutes pitching you? That becomes the nature of how they reach out.
You want to start cultivating a relationship where you are giving maybe more than you’re receiving. I belong to a BNI chapter. That’s a business networking group chapter.
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And the theme of BNI is givers gain. And the truth is, when you’re in situations where you give to others, you feel good. Initially, you may have an awkward feeling about it.
But frankly, in situations, I know where I and other people give to others, we feel good about that. We feel good about that experience. And we beam with pride at having helped another individual.
It’s not that others are indebted to us. But we become magnets for support ourselves. Others want to help us.
So, point number one is make the time. Point number two is stay in touch and give to other people as you network with them. And number three, and this is a fun one, have casual conversations.
I was raised in New York. And although I don’t live there anymore, I will tell you that a casual conversation in New York is an awkward thing. It’s not like you talk to people on the subway, right? You have to put yourself in the situations where that weird thing happens and you’re the one that speaks and identifies it.
It’s kind of like Seinfeld moments. Now, if you’re in a situation where something odd happens, without being a waving lunatic, you can call attention to it. Others can chime in and you have these casual conversations with folks that can lead to something more.
And then you can stay in touch with them and make the time to stay in touch with them and connect with others in order to build your network. Now, where can you put yourself into contact with people? Now, depending on the city that you’re in, if you’re a business owner, the Chamber of Commerce is a great place. If you’re a job hunter or someone . . . let me not even think in terms of job hunting.
Let me think in terms of being an employee. Now, if you’re a business owner, the Chamber of Commerce is a great place to be. There are professional groups where you can be of service.
And, yes, they take time out of your evenings and occasionally on the weekend, but be involved with these groups. I’ve been involved with an international men’s group for the longest time. And I’ve helped a lot of people in my involvement with that group.
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And I will tell you that I felt good giving and I’ve gotten a lot back from it, a lot back professionally, too. And I will say that, for you, the three steps are really important. I’ve never known of a job hunter who hasn’t lamented about not having a well-cultivated network when they needed to change jobs.
They’re always, oh, why didn’t I spend more time? It’s like the person who has worked hard their entire life and at their deathbed, laments about the fact that they’re in a situation where they miss time with their kids. Well, for you as an employee of a firm, for you as a business owner, networking is an important component. If you can schedule a little time each day, 15 minutes to reach back to people in your life who you haven’t been in contact with in a long time, could be former clients, can be former colleagues, depending upon whether you’re a business owner or an employee.
If you’re an employee of a firm and just say, Hi, how are you? I haven’t been in touch in a long time. I just thought I would pick up the phone and see how you were, or drop them an email. It’s trying to set up a time.
Don’t do this as purely an email exchange. Networking is a contact sport. And to do it well, you’re going to actually have to talk to people.
Email is okay if you’ve reconnected. But the first thing is really the phone call. I’m Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter.
If you found this helpful and you’re interested in my coaching you or someone at your firm, reach out to me. My email address . . . actually, the best way is through LinkedIn. LinkedIn.com/in/TheBigGameHunter.
Mention that you saw this video. I love knowing that my work is helping other folks. And once we’re connected, message me about coaching.
I’d love to help you. Hope you have a great day. Take care!
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ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ careers easier. Those things can
involve job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
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You will find great info to help with your job search at my new site, JobSearch.Community Besides the video courses, books and guides, I answer questions from members daily about their job search. Leave job search questions and I will respond daily. Become an Insider+ member and you get everything you’d get as an Insider PLUS you can get me on Zoom calls to get questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we do individual and group coaching.
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