alan rasof: how to become a master of networking

H O W T O B E C O M E A M A S T E R O F N E T W O R K I N GC R E AT E D B Y A L A N R A S O F

N E T W O R K U P, D O W N , S I D E WAY S

D O N ’ T J U S T C R E AT E A N E T W O R K AT Y O U R L E V E L O R I N D U S T R Y – D I V E R S I F Y ! B E I N T E N T I O N A L A B O U T B R I N G I N G I N T H O S E A B O V E A N D

B E L O W Y O U A N D F R O M A VA R I E T Y O F S E C T O R S . E V E R Y N E W C O N TA C T O P E N S U P A W H O L E N E W N E T W O R K T O Y O U .

B E O P E N A N D G E N U I N E

Y O U WA N T P E O P L E T O L I K E Y O U A N D C O N N E C T W I T H Y O U B E C A U S E Y O U ’ R E B E I N G G E N U I N E . D E V E L O P A C U R I O S I T Y F O R O T H E R S A N D B E

O P E N T O N E W R E L AT I O N S H I P S W H E R E VA L U E C A N B E F O U N D W I T H O U T L E T T I N G Y O U R E G O G E T I N T H E WAY. L E T P E O P L E K N O W T H E I M PA C T

T H E Y ’ V E H A D O N Y O U .

F O R G E T T H E E L E VAT O R

P I T C H

D O N ’ T T R Y T O I M P R E S S S O M E O N E

W I T H Y O U R T I T L E O R E X P E R T I S E . I N S T E A D ,

E N T E R I N T O C O N V E R S AT I O N , A S K

Q U E S T I O N S A N D L I S T E N . T H E T H I N G S Y O U M I G H T H AV E I N C O M M O N H E L P T O

E S TA B L I S H A C O N N E C T I O N T H AT

C O U L D B L O S S O M O V E R T I M E . E L E VAT O R

P I T C H E S A R E E A S Y T O F O R G E T B U T M A K I N G

A G E N U I N E C O N N E C T I O N W I T H S O M E O N E S T I C K S .

Organize A Happy Hour

Hosting your own small event is a great way to meet new people as well as to be helpful to the people you already know. You never know what opportunities could come from meeting new people and discussing your career in a casual setting. Always important to remember — the

more open doors the better!

Swap Cards Later

Your business card is only as powerful as the impression

you leave behind. By handing someone your card right off the bat, you are providing them with more room to

forget about it. So get to know the person first and

gauge if there’s a connection, and then end the

conversation by offering your card, or even reach out days later via email with your

information.

Don’t ask about job opportunities and

favors without offering anything valuable in return.

Networking is a two way street.

R E M E M B E R – I T ’ S N O T A L L A B O U T Y O U

Be Memorable

You should strive to be memorable when you’re meeting new people, and the best way to do so is through good storytelling. When you tell a story, make sure it has a

clear point and a punch line, where a takeaway or a joke.

Quality, Not Quantity

Meeting the right people is most important. The right people are those that can

help reach your career goal and

speak up for you. You need to focus

on people with whom you can build strong

mutually beneficial

relationships.

Leave Your Comfort Zone

Even if you’re shy, you just have to engage with people. Try to emulate someone you admire in these situations until it becomes more natural

for you. After all, everyone was a stranger before you met

them.

Keep In Touch

T H E M O R E Y O U I N V E S T I N Y O U R N E T W O R K , T H E M O R E VA L U A B L E Y O U R N E T W O R K I S . TA K I N G C A L L S , R E S P O N D I N G T O E M A I L S , O F F E R I N G T O H E L P P E O P L E C R E AT E S A S T R O N G B O N D . I T ’ S

I M P O R TA N T T O N E T W O R K P R O A C T I V E LY S O Y O U H AV E T H E S E R E L AT I O N S H I P S W H E N Y O U N E E D H E L P.