Social Butterflies

Have you ever had anyone tell you you are a social butterfly? Life of every party? Super popular? Ladies you need to transfer that extroversion into your job search. For whatever reason, we can go to parties and socials and talk about ourselves until we are blue in the face, and we love it of course, but when we know our socializing talents could be put to good use to advance our careers or job searches, we freeze up! Why is this? Remember, People Do Business With People They Know, Like, And Trust (Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD). I attended an extreme networking event this past week, put on by Canadian Career Moves at the Compass Point Inn, and I learned some rules of networking that I will share with you today:

1) Know what you want - people can't help you if don't know what you want
2) Be prepared - have a resume on you at all times
3) Ask easy and common questions such as "what do you do?"
4) Speak to everyone!
5) Ask open ended questions
6) Listen listen listen - we have two ears and one mouth for a reason
7) Ask for referrals - always get names, phone numbers, email addresses, etc.
8) Offer help yourself
9) Keep a journal
10) Follow Through - Call or write a card and hand deliver it, if practical, and say "thanks for your time." A little courtesy can go a long way.

And some final words to leave with you today, if you don't ask you'll never know--what have you got to lose?