Working the Room

A recent article in CIO magazine talked to the challenges of networking for systems folks. BTW, CIO Magazine is a good free print serial as well as a good e-mail newsletter too.
There are a few good tips in the article and SysAdmins and IT folks from libraries could learn from the list. Here is is.
1. Avoid generic networking events.
2. Conceptualize and build a networking model.
3. Focus on vertical networking.
4. Take an MBA short course.
5. Engage in collaborative networking.
There a great list in the comments too – one of the beauties of coments!)
1. Spend 90% of your free time networking.
2. Most of your opportunities will come thru (not from) people in your network.
3. Don’t under estimate using your vendor network. They are great at reconnaisance. It’s their job to know their markets, who the decisions are and where the openings are.
4. Don’t wait to build your network. It takes a long time. It’s a great way to gain knowledge and also get a jump start on searching for a new job.
5. Always end conversations by asking what you can do for the person you are networking with. What you give comes back to you ten-fold.
6. Differentiate yourself in the network to get people to remember you. Develop your tag line highlighting a specialty, capability or fun fact.
7. Network to stay fresh and practice your personal sales pitch. Hiring decisions are sometimes made in the first 5 minutes of an interview. Be prepared for the “Tell me about yourself” question.
8. Follow-up and always do what you say you will do.
9. Protect your valuable time. Don’t overcommit or waste time.
10. Make sure you have plenty of CXOs, HR professionals and recruiters in your network.
Read the full article here.
I know that the networking skills I’ve learned through professional association involvement have stood me in good stead for many years. I’d add simple tips like:
1. Talk with normal words. Vertical networking means folks don’t understand geek or acronyms (and won’t admit it).
2. Collect cards and file them. You’ll be surprised how important they can be. People avoid putting their e-mail addresses on easy to find websites now to avoid spam.
3. Don’t make up your mind about someone you meet too soon. Take the time to learn about them adn their networks. You might find a great contact or a new friend.
4. Don’t talk about you and yourself too soon.
In order to get folks to buy into our visions of a world empowered by lbraries and our collections and services we have network beyond ourselves and engage the rest of the world in our powerful visions and get their support – political and financial.
I don’t always take my own advice but one tries. Sigh.
Stephen