CMS Career Blog

There are a lot of great resources on the web for job seekers and career changers — in fact TOO many! With so many things to choose from, how can do you know where to find the resource you need WHEN you need it? Well you don’t need to spend your precious time searching for them, because we do that for you. Subscribe to this blog as an RSS feed and great resources will come to you!

Today I am reviewing a podcast that is put out by Monster.com (http://podcast.monster.com) This podcast is about “How to work the room at a Networking Event.” This is an important skill for everyone these days, especially job seekers. These suggestions are given by Jeff Hoffman (President of Basho Strategies — www.bashostrategies.com )

He offers us “Four Easy Steps” for working the room at a networking event:

1. Prepare — Ask the facilitator ahead of time for an attendee list & plan out who you want to make sure you meet! (or get there early and scan name badges)
2. Set Goals — Make your goals specific and measurable! DETERMINE WHO YOU NEED TO MEET, AND have a goal for what you are going to ask for and offer. Hoffman says, “I usually want a referral or a meeting at a later date.” (He reminds that it is MOST important for networkers to think, “what can I do for someone in THIS room?”)
3. Document — Write the referral information on the business card (along with the date you met the referrer, etc). Be sure to ask, “May I use YOUR name when contacting this person?” BE SURE TO OFFER THEM ACCESS TO YOUR NETWORK — “Who would you like to meet that I can introduce you to?
4. Disengage — Acknowledge that this is a strange way to meet people, but that you are “confined” by the process. You can say something like, “if you are like me, you probably have several people you need to meet tonight. Thank you for your time. Talk to you later.” Then move on to the next person!

Great ideas! And don’t forget to follow up after the event!