Guru Love <3
About this Section
Three events and tourism management female students at London Metropolitan University created this blog for graduate women. The blog will provide more information on networking events in the field of tourism and event sector; it will introduce you with a networking concept, objectives and importance of it. The NETWORKING section will encourage, educate and motivate how to trust your self and what influence networking events can make for a lady. Also, it will be shared some tips about the places to go, the way to speak, the way to look to make an impression.
Introduction to Networking
Students
could tell us so much about where to find the best party place in London, where
to get a cheaper concert/theatre ticket, where is the best beer or the most
spectacular event. But what if I would ask you about the Networking event? No?
Never heard about it ?! Or maybe you heard about it but you are not sure what
exactly it is and who can attend it, etc?
Let’s
start with a general concept of the networking and it’s importance. As a
graduate student you should know that 69% of annual hires are accounted via
networking events. Impressive, right? Networking could be as simple as casual
everyday conversation with the people you meet in your normal routine (Baicher,
2008). You never know who might have a brother or aunt in your field. Or it
could be a purposely-organised event for professionals and people in the field
you are working/going to work. However, it’s a little bit more than just
getting out and meeting people. “Networking is a structured plan to get to know
people who will do business with you or introduce you to those who will”
(Visser, 2011). Being a graduate you would expect to be introduced to someone
who could offer you advice (career, personal), provide with relevant
information, provide with the instructions, provide an important feedback about
your performance, they could offer mentoring or coaching relationship (Visser,
2011).
Develop your Networking Strategy
Step
1. Identify a gap
Think
where would you like to be in 5 years time?
What
education, experience and connections you will need?
Consider
what connections do you have and what important networks you will need to
establish to realize your goal?
Step
2. Establish your connections
Do
your research on what professionals should you meet, places to go,
organisations who are coordinating such networking events.
Step
3. Educate
It
is vitally important to educate yourself how to make a long lasting connection
with a new contact. Your goal should be to learn to talk effectively about
yourself. Even short questions, as “What do you do” are important. Think about
possible questions and answers, rehearse them and you are ready to attend the
event.
Step
4. Build a network
Once
you met someone or have been introduced to one who could help you with
internship or a job position offer to exchange contact details, take an email
of a person and try to send a respond with a few days time. Also, try to
maintain the connection. Maybe you are writing your blog, or organising events,
or already working within an industry so ask a permission of a person to
subscribe to your distribution list (Visser, 2011; Lifshen and Singer, 2009;
Baicher, 2008).
References:
Visser,
M.(2011) The Female Leadership Paradox : Power, Performance and Promotion. New York: Palgrave Mcmillan
Lifshen, M. and Singer, T. (2009) Some Assembly Required: a Networking guide
for Women. Danvile: New Year Publishing
Baicher, S. (2008) Survival Guide for Women in Busness. Philadelphia: Weetfeet
Guru Love <3
I am newbee in London and networking is a new way of socialising for me and building my personal networking, so this bit was quite interesting. Thanxxx A.
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