Holiday parties may seem like a time to kick back and enjoy – and yet
they also may be the best opportunities all winter to grow your network
and add a little warmth to those who have helped you out, or may do so
in the year ahead.
After all there are plenty of holiday celebrations and fundraisers
where you can build connections, whether it’s a group of neighbors at a
cookie exchange, a professional association holiday happening or your
company’s party or potluck. Every social event brings opportunities to
connect – and those connections, carefully nurtured, could lead to career or other opportunities later on.
You want to create a bond and build trust,
paving the way for further contact later, said Nancy Karas, a Five
O’Clock Club senior career coach who also has worked as a human
resources executive. Here’s her advice on how to do that before and
during the holiday parties:
Seek out the stars and shakers.
Take time ahead of the event to create a list of people with whom you’d
like to connect. Try to get a list of attendees. Come up with at least
four people – and then be glad if you get to spend time with half of
them, she said. When you’re at your professional association party,
maybe you want to meet the president or president elect of the
organization. Look up the head of a committee you’d like to join, or
someone who you’ve emailed often about industry news or the head of a
division of your company
where you’d like to work. Karas chooses people who are happy and
confident, or those who may be able to assist her in achieving her
goals.
Do some due diligence ahead of time. Once
you have targeted a handful of people, read up on each of them. Make
note of what charities they support and what hobbies or sidelines they
have. Find out about their personal interests as well as their
professional path. “Find a common bond, a common denominator and use it
to connect with that person,” she said. It could be a charity or
children the same age or a shared passion for freshwater fishing.
Prepare a two-minute pitch.
Create a concise statement that focuses on who you are, what you’ve
done — and what your career goals or aspirations are. Then, practice it
so you sound polished and professional “so that you can do a good job
presenting yourself in the way you want to be seen.” You may not use it
at every event, but when someone important asks about you and your
professional expertise, you are prepared to share your accomplishments
and talk about yourself a bit.
Consider how you could help. Watch
for opportunities to connect the executive with someone you know, or
with a cause that may appeal to them. Or see if you could network on
their behalf or send them an article you just read about a country the
executive will visit with her family over spring break. “Everybody needs
something in business and in life,” said Karas.
Come in projecting confidence, professionalism and warmth. You want to be seen as cordial and smart, not overly pushy. Do not pitch yourself for a job opening
or pass out resumes or brochures for your consulting company. If you
want to give the person your business card, wait until the end of the
conversation when you’re moving on to hand it over, so it feels more
like a farewell and hope we can connect again gesture. “The
goal is to build a relationship and open the door now,” said Karas.
“Make that connection; have a really meaningful conversation.”
“If
you look like you’re on a mission to network, you’ve also scared people
away, she said. “It’s a holiday party — come on festive, relaxed, warm
and happy.”
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