Networking Mistakes People Make

By Erin Kennedy

Networking can work for everyone, but it doesn’t mean you can just go through the motions and land your dream job as a result. Networking is only effective when you use the right strategies. Here are some of the most common mistakes executives make in their networking efforts.

Not Warming Up Your Contacts

With such a busy schedule, combined with not personally seeing your connections frequently, contacts can quickly and easily go cold. It can be easy to lose touch with your professional network. However, the key to c-level personal branding is to always work on improving your image and brand. Any LinkedIn profile development professional will tell you if you reach out to a cold contact and act like you just saw them yesterday, your efforts won’t yield very good results. Just like you have to build a relationship with any new contacts you make, you have to warm up the relationship with current contacts.

Being Too Vague

When you visit the best executive resume writing services, they aren’t going to tell you to be vague on your resume. The same goes with networking. If you don’t enter a networking event with a clear goal in mind of why you’re going, you’ll leave with an empty feeling. Before you even attend an event, write down a list of things you want to accomplish, and most importantly, what you’re looking for in your career. Anticipate questions people may ask you so you know how to answer. Also, find out what organizations will be at the event and plan out who to meet while you are there.

Choosing the Wrong People

You may be talking to the wrong people. In most cases, if you’re new to an area or industry, you can’t talk to your past connections and expect to get anywhere. That’s why LinkedIn profile development is so critical in networking, since you can make connections no matter where you are. There are plenty of LinkedIn groups available to help you get acquainted with the right type of people before you even meet them.

Unprofessionalism

Spend time updating your LinkedIn profile. Review your Facebook account and delete photos that your shouldn’t have posted. A potential employer isn’t interested in what you did over the weekend or what you had for dinner.

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Feel free to contact us if you are struggling with your networking efforts in any way.

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