Thanksgiving Networking Tips -

Thanksgiving Networking Tips - Do holiday parties leave you hapless and hopeless? Maybe youre between jobs and not really feeling the spirit? Dont despair and let it ruin your Thanksgiving and holiday season. With a little preparation and the right attitude, you can turn festive occasions into opportunities for you to meet new allies for your job search. Follow these tips to turn your not-working into effective networking at any event.   You know youre going to be seeing lots of new and old friends and family members this holiday season, so you may as well make the most of the season to improve your opportunities for jobs or gigs! Make this season your best ever; end this year with some strong holiday networking.  Keep these Thanksgiving networking tips in mind. Self-assess. Know what job you want; be specific and targeted. Identify companies where youd like to work and be prepared to mention several organizations names. Do not plan to be the I can do anything job seeker. While you may think its a good idea to keep your options open, this approach usually backfires. No one wants to hire or refer someone who seems unfocused or confused about next steps. Learn how to introduce yourself. Weve all heard of the two-minute elevator speech. Forget everything you know about that and pare your talk down to 30 seconds or less. In less than 100 words (35-50 is better), practice saying what skills you have and mention a key accomplishment. While you wont launch into this pitch the moment you meet someone, when youre prepared to discuss your best professional qualities, youll be able to make the most of a good contact. Research the guest list. Its always best to be prepared, and when you do a little sleuthing, its not difficult to find out who plans to be at the event. Many invitations are electronic, and the social profiles of attendees may be prominently displayed on RSVPs. Look up the people who plan to attend. Find their LinkedIn profiles and read their Twitter streams. Identify several interesting contacts and make a point to speak to them. Keep in mind: you want to identify people who could know someone working at your targeted list of companies. Be aware: these networking contacts may come in surprising packages. For example, the neighborhood busy-body probably has all kinds of great contacts. So does the bartender at your neighborhood pubâ€"or the person tending bar at the party youre attending. Dont cross anyone off your list of good people to meet. Create snazzy business cards. Even if youre not currently working, you should have professional looking business cards that give the recipient easy access to your social media profiles (for example, your LinkedIn URL). Include your pitch on the card. For example, for an accountant: Save clients an average of 20% off their tax bill using time tested, effective accounting strategies. Dress the part. Even if its a casual party, make sure to choose something to wear that looks sharp and in style. If you havent bought clothing in years, its a good idea to shop the sales and pick out one or two items that really flatter and make you feel confident. Consider wearing a conversational piece to help make yourself memorable. A colorful, in-style scarf or tie can do the trick. Be a listener. Make sure people dont sense that you have an agenda when you meet them. Ask questions so you can learn something about the persons hobbies and interests. Use your research to help you ask quality questions and be a good listener. Everyone likes to talk about themselves, so if youre a good listener, people will remember you. Ask for a follow-up meeting. Use your in-person networking time to request another meeting in a quieter location. For example, if youve had a great talk, and you think there is potential for you to be able to help each other, say, Id love to follow up with you and explore how we may be able to be good resources for each other. How about if I send an email tomorrow suggesting some dates to meet for coffee? You may even want to ask the best way to get in touchâ€"email or phone. Say thank youâ€"and good bye. Dont forget your manners. Be sure to thank the party organizer, even if you have to stand around to have an audience. Its extra nice to send a card or a note after the event. Remember, you want to make a positive impression. When you go the extra mile to say thank you, people will remember that. Keep in touch. Depending on the nature of your interactions at the party, you have a lot of options for following up. For example, if you know a new contacts daughter is moving to Chicago soon, you can send a nice note with an article about fun things for newcomers to do in the Chicago area. Always make a point to connect via social media channelsâ€"especially LinkedIn. Make sure you follow through with anything you said youd do during your first conversation and dont squander potential opportunities by failing to keep in touch. When you do, youll have a better chance of adding new allies to your job search efforts.