Networking Forum

What works best for you in getting beyond gatekeepers so you can effectively connect with first-time contacts?

Have a plan. How are you choosing your network contacts? What do you expect of them and what do you offer them? It should be a mutual sharing of information. IF someone does not call or respond keep trying. If it becomes clear they are not interested, remember what your goal is: to develop a functioning network of contacts that can assist in the search for work. People who do not return phone calls, emails or other forms of contact ARE NOT necessarily the best choice for a network. A network functions best with two way communications shared in a timely manner.

Two other resources Power Networking-59 Secrets for Personal and Professional Success by Donna Fischer and Sandy Vlas Bard Press ISBN1-885167-47-4

A Foot in the Door- Networking -Your way with the hidden job market by Katharine Hansen Ten Speed Press

When I call a networking contact I usually tell the gatekeeper my name, who I am calling and why. I then give them my phone number or email and tell them that we met at such and such event and I was wearing whatever. I sometimes say I am the legally blind woman he/she was chatting with. I tend to get my calls returned.

I agree with Jim Elekes about being persistent if you don't get called back, but I've found calling someone at 11:50 am usually gets their attention and the conversation may be short but they remember who you are. Usually they call you back once they get back into office.

Networking is a skill, but anyone can do it , think of it as being friendly, interested and courteous. Give them something interesting to remember you by, just don't make it offensive or outlandish. Usually they'll remember who you are or call you before you can call them. Remember at networking events to mind your manners, not be obnoxious, try not to use profanity and dress appropriately. Have lots of business cards handy but don't throw them at everyone , after talking with a group say may I give you my business card and nine times out of ten they'll take it .

The resources I listed are excellent in giving practical tips and good advice.

i have found a very effective way for getting to that ever evasive person we so want to speak with. one way i have found effective is to hit the pound (#) or the asteriks (*) which more often than not gets you to an option of speaking to another person at another extension or perhaps the receptionist at the individuals office. this works at least 75% of the time. another trick is to try and figure out what the main number would be and make every effort to leave your name and number with the receptionist or ask her to page the individual with whom you would like to speak. a person you are trying to reach may stop what they are doing to take an inter office call rather than seeing a call coming in from outside the office. further, by reaching the recepptionist, you will be able to better gage where and when your contact is at any time. you will also have another person with whom you can network at your contacts office and the receptionist may even have another person who may be able to better address your needs as a mentee.

One thing that my mom told me is to try and call the person with whom you'd like to network early in the morning, like when they first get to the office. That way you will stand a better chance of not missing them the first time. I tried this a couple of times and it worked each time. One tactic that I recently utilized in calling a local mental-health agency to ask about employment, is to leave messages at two or more listed phone numbers. This is how it worked for me. My mom and I were having a conversation in the car one day not too long ago about employment. She brought up the agency in question and told me that a friend of mine got a job through the agency, and my mom recommended I call them and inquire about services. So later when I got back to my apartment I looked up the agency online, and called one of the numbers listed. I had to leave a message because nobody was in. After waiting a few days I called another number listed on the website because nobody had returned my call. I again had to leave a message, but this time somebody did call me back the very next morning. The interesting thing was that the person who called me back was not the person whose voice was on the voicemail. But I suppose that's more or less besides the point. I talked with the person who called me back, and he told me I needed an open VR case in order to utilize the services of his agency. He gave me a number for a VR office in a different location than the one I had been used to, and I therefore didn't pursue it. The short version is that I didn't want to create mass confusion among VR personnel leading to a communication breakdown. This has happened to me in the past. Finally, during one of my administrative assistant shifts this week, a young lady came into our office and inquired about volunteering for our organization. I was introduced to her but was on another project that day, so she spoke with someone else in our office. As it happened she had been referred to us by a friend of mine for whom I used to work, and she got our phone number and left.

I'd like to know? The areas of/success and process of home based employment.