| Topic Name: |
Tales of Schmoozing prowress |
| Message Name: |
Schmoozing |
| Date Posted: |
08/10/2000 |
| In Reply To: |
There is not secret to "schmoozing" or "networking". The only requirement is that you are friendly and strike up conversations with people. The easiest way to start is your own compnay. Talk to people who you don't need to work with. Learn a bit about what's happening in their work.
My job doesn't require that I know what the sales staff, or the finance department, or the product management group is doing. But it doesn't stop me from dropping by to chat, ask what's happening, etc... Who knows whether they may have a contact I need in the future?
Another good place to start is your fellow students. Go to alumni gatherings. Keep in touch with classmates, even if you don't really know them well.
Finally, there are the "networking events" hosted specifically to let people make connections. Talk to many people and just pick up names.
As for a true story of the use of "networking", I work with an IT consulting company which doesn't advertise itself via any kind of media. They don't cold-call any clients, no random e-mails, etc... All their business come from networking and personal references, and there is so much that they have to turn away clients at times.
They were recommended to me by a friend. In turn, I recommended them to an internet startup. I am now working at that start-up because they tipped me off to a job opening. The circle is endless..... |
| Message: |
Dear Anonymous,
I'd like to join your circle. I am a Management Consultant(process redesign) currently in school for IS. I have been on a SAP Implementation, Y2K Project Manager, and auditted systems.
Thanks,
lindamomara@yahoo.com
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