How to Make the Most of the Holiday Season for
Networking
The holidays are a great
time to enjoy festivities with friends and family. However, they can also be a
great time to build business contacts. While everyone else is chugging back the
eggnog and planning a rendezvous under the mistletoe, you can be networking and
laying the groundwork for your next job or your next big deal.
Not sure where to start?
Here are a few tips for how you can make the most of the holiday season for
networking:
Fill Your Dance Card
Everyone is in the mood for
a party during the holidays. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet as many
new people as you can and accept all the invitations that you are given. Even
if the invite comes from your annoying neighbor who's been unemployed for
months, you never know if one of the guests will include an uncle who works at
one of the biggest companies in town or an old high school friend who just so
happens to be the hiring manager of a company you've been trying to work at for
years.
Host Your Own Party
Even though you already know
all the people you'd be inviting to a party, you never know who those people
may bring along. Host a large party, and invite as many people in your contact
list as you can afford to host. Then encourage those people to invite friends.
You can also invite clients and former clients, some of whom may become repeat
customers or who could help lead you to new opportunities.
Mix Business and Pleasure
When you network at parties,
you have to know when to talk business and when to just have a good time. No
one wants to be cornered at the cheese table to talk about that investing
opportunity you think is going to be gold. Make sure you strike the right
balance between having a good time and making social conversation and talking
about business plans and opportunities. Remember: If the time isn't right now,
you can always plant the seed for follow up later.
Send Cards and Small Gifts
Even if you can't meet your
contacts in person through parties and other holiday events, you can still
connect by sending out cards and small gifts. By doing so, you are supporting
your ongoing relationship and smoothing the way for future networking
opportunities -- like when you hear about a job opening at that person's
company in a few month's time. Be sure to include a personalized note with your
card or gift.
Follow Up
Once the parties have ended
and the cards have all been trashed, make sure to follow up on the work you
have done to strengthen those connections. Send an e-mail after a few weeks, or
make a personal phone call. Ask to meet for coffee or lunch to talk about your
ideas or to explore opportunities together. Networking is about building and
fostering relationships, so you should follow up regularly to maintain the
connection.
The holidays are a great
time to network because everyone is in a festive mood and is ready to rub
elbows with new people. Take advantage of this time to reach out to new
contacts and to reconnect with old ones. You never know what new opportunities
you may discover!
How do you network at the
holidays? Share your tips for success in the comments!
Sarah Clare is a writer and oversees
the site projectmanagementsoftware.com, where she has recently been researching
project scheduling software. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys
cooking and scrap-booking.
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