Networking Beyond the Basics

It's not just about contacts. It's about relationships. And one way to solidify relationships is with consideration. Remember, it's often the little things that count such as cards, gifts, a phone call, an interesting article clipped from the paper. Here are some hints on inexpensive ways to keep yourself in their minds.

Meet for drinks and appetizers. This is an easy way to say hello and spend a few minutes with a casual contact. Invite a contact to lunch. If there's someone she knows who you want to know too, ask her to bring that person along, you're treating. Tell her why, of course. Nobody likes to feel like they're being used without their permission.

Make a sports date. This is a classic stay in touch ploy in the world of men. It's time we adopted it too. There are so many avenues to pursue—golf, tennis, jogging, walking, a Pilates class, aerobics, kickboxing. You'll be doing your heart a favor as you work on your networking too!

Have a networking party. Like a Tupperware party, but you're selling yourself, not plastics. Invite a group you think would be congenial for brunch or wine and cheese. No need to do any kind of presentation, you're just inviting folks to get together socially, but your hostessing skills and your enthusiasm will leave them with a positive impression. Make it a tradition. Make your get-togethers so great people will be clamoring to get in. Remember reading about the grand salons in Paris? They were THE place to see and be seen.

Get in for free. Call the Chamber of Commerce and other major business organizations in your city to get a calendar of local events where you might make good contacts. Volunteer to help prepare, set up, clean up, or perform any other service that will get you into the event at no charge. Women For Hire's favorite trick is to volunteer to work at the check-in desk where the nametags are displayed. This way you'll be able to meet and greet every attendee, then schmooze them later when you're off duty.

Use the power of technology. Design a website about yourself and promote it to everyone in your address book. One woman we know got a job by writing a very clever email about herself and sending it to everyone on her address list. She requested her email buddies to forward her information to five friends. She received two job offers within three weeks.

Get published. Promote yourself as an expert to association newsletters, local newspapers, community websites, and other publications. Most smaller pubs are eager for good content and happy to consider a well-written article or even a short tidbit. Getting published means getting your name out in public (in front of eyes who may be hiring), and a published article is always a good résumé item or notable achievement to mention in an interview. If you've designed your own website, be sure to link to your articles.

Reach out and touch someone important. Next time you see a newspaper or magazine article about a successful woman in your industry, drop her a note of congratulations and ask if she has any advice to offer a peer in her field. Most women will be flattered that you read about them and happy to share some nuggets of wisdom. Why not ask to interview the most admired woman in your field—tell her it's for an article you're writing for an association newsletter. If the article is published, the featured woman will not only read the article, she'll share it with her friends and colleagues.

Learn your rights. If your spouse was relocated, check with your partner's company to see if spousal support is offered for job placement. Many human resource offices of companies offer career assistance helping a spouse find a job.