Are You A Reluctant Networker?

When you think about networking for your career, are you thinking "Yes!" or "Oh, no!"?

If you are reluctant to network, here are a few strategies to move you forward.

First, understand why you should network?

• Meet people with shared interests
• Explore Career / Recareer options
• Analyze the market
• Identify trends, emerging fields and industries
• Learn about company culture
• Get referred for jobs

Second, understand why you are reluctant?
Which of these reasons stops you from networking?

• Unsure how to/where to start?
• Don’t know what to say
• Shy or embarrassed
• No time
• Overwhelming
• Don’t know anyone
• Don’t want to beg

Each of these reasons has their own strategy described in the slide deck. (The presentation opens in SlideShare.)

Additional Resources

• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

           * Book review - "Quiet" Inspiration for #WorldBookDay," 2 Mar 2017 blog post
           * Susan Cain: The Power of Introverts (video) 

• I’m on LinkedIn: Now What? By Jason Alba
• Network your Way To Your Next Job FAST by Cylde C. Lowstuter and David L. Robertson