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Top 10 Effective Habits of a Highly Successful Career
Networker
By Annemarie Cross, Advanced Employment Concepts
With a tightening job market, numerous job
seekers have increased their networking endeavours with the hope of
tapping into the hidden job market, where 70-80% of unadvertised
opportunities are located.
Whilst networking should be an integral part of
your search and overall career management efforts there are some
secrets which can make a significant difference between not really
generating much success and the potential for networking burnout in
comparison to building influential and productive relationships
that open the doors to potential job opportunities.
To avoid networking burnout, ensure you're
adopting the top ten effective habits of highly successful
networkers.
A highly successful
networker:
1. Is clear on their
job/industry target and can clearly articulate this when seeking
support or communicating with members of their network.
2. Has a clear understanding of
their personal brand, their unique selling proposition and can
professionally communicate their brand both in person and in online
networking opportunities.
3. Has up-to-date personal
marketing material, which can include professional resume, bio,
leadership addendum, web portfolio, personal blog, and profiles on
multiple social networking platforms, that highlights achievements
and value offered to a potential employer.
4. Is able to speak confidently
(not arrogantly) about their strengths and successes so that
potential hirers are able to grasp the WIIFM (what's in it for me -
the company) should they be lucky enough to have you on their
team.
5. Has a powerful and memorable
"marketing pitch" that can be utilised as an introduction to
networking events and that question "So what is it that you
do?".
6. Has a written strategic
networking plan that encompasses regular attendance of both online
and offline networking activities that allows them to continually
expand and leverage a diverse personal network.
7. Utilises a network
management system to effectively track their networking endeavours
and important information about each member of their network.
8. Adopts an approach of
regularly sharing relevant information with people in their network
with a mindset of no expectations in return. They continually
nurture their network as part of their long-term career management
plan and not just when seeking new job opportunities, so that when
they need to seek help from their network, people are far more open
to supporting them.
9. Knows how to frame and
deliver the right questions to whom they are speaking to enable
ongoing expansion of their network or an opportunity to speak to a
key decision maker.
10. Surrounds themselves with
positive and supportive people who continue to strengthen and
enhance the enthusiasm they portray during their job search
activities. This is in complete contrast to being surrounded with
nay-sayers who can seriously undermine your enthusiasm and
ultimately your job search outcomes.
If you've ticked all ten areas, then
congratulations - you are a highly successful networker and are
communicating your brand professionally and prominently in
readiness for when that ideal job opportunity presents itself.
If, on the other hand, you haven't ticked all
ten areas, then my suggestion would be to select, work on and
integrate one new area each week into your networking plan so that
you too can become a "star" networker.
Author: Annemarie Cross
Business: Advanced
Employment Concepts
Annemarie is a Career and NLP Coach, award-winning Resume
Writer, Speaker, Author and founder/principal of Advanced
Employment Concepts, a career management organisation offering
specialised services for people striving for success and fulfilment
in their careers. She supports clients to regain clarity,
confidence, contentment and balance within their lives and
careers.
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