Decoding: “I’ll keep you in mind!”

When you are networking, have you heard “I’ll keep you in mind” or “Send me a copy of your resume”, from a friend or former college?

The good news is that actually means I WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU IF I ONLY KNEW HOW. The Bad news is that not only do they not know how, but in a few short days, they will no longer have you in mind and the resume you sent will be filed away ( with all the other non-actionable things they get sent to them)

To make matters worse, this “not working” approach to networking gets repeated and repeated until your network stops taking your calls out of frustration of not knowing how to help.

If Networking is not working, you are doing it wrong! Albert Einstein’s definition of Insanity is:

“Continuing to do the same thing and actually expecting a different outcome”. Are you Insane?

Ask yourself, what can my “network” do for me today? “What can I do for my network?” After you have GREAT answers, develop concise scripting and start offering and asking. If you are not sure what you can offer or what to ask you may need the help of a professional like me or my colleges at Executive Professional Marketing. Or sit tight for future posts.

Remember, Networking done correctly is like performing and you are much better off “practicing” in front of a friendly audience while you master your new art. Your closest relationships already have a solid and positive opinion of you; they will not be adversely affected, should you fumble with your presentation.

As soon as you start offering and asking, you are strategically networking!

Remember: make your next-opp your best-opp.

www.next-opp.com

Is your networking NOT working?

Most job seekers believe networking means calling old friends and colleagues to say: “Hey, I’m unemployed and life stinks.” And then they WAIT for whoever is listening to offer up a job lead.

Is it really any wonder why “networking” is not working for those job seekers?

Networking is an art. Done correctly, it is a planned performance that inspires an audience to take action – for you!

Like acting or performing music, effective networking requires the same methodology to produce a great outcome. You have to learn how to do it. You have to practice it, repeatedly, and you have to get feedback on how well (or not) you’re doing it.

Lessons exchange knowledge between an expert and someone who needs expertise. Practice incorporates knowledge into repeated action. Feedback adjusts action to create a best possible outcome. For us, that is your next opportunity.

To get to great – the Broadway show of networking – is a skill easily learned. With only a few “lessons,” some practice, and feedback from an executive professional marketer you can learn nuances that will take your performance from not working to now working -- full-time for your new employer!

Remember: make your next-opp your best-opp.

www.next-opp.com