I get questions about networking all the time. People frequently ask me how they know they’ve said enough.
When meeting people, the goal is to develop rapport, and that means being able to communicate clearly. You need to develop your personal brand, which helps to lead the conversation. That way, when you’re asked “what are you looking for?” you’ll be able to have a good discussion. What makes a good conversation? It’s one in which an exchange of questions and answers takes place and information is shared.
To experience success when answering this question, you have to know how to articulate you background in such a way that it generates information. It’s hard to answer the “what are you looking for” question if you do not have a sense of what you bring to the table. Establishing your own brand statement — a statement of your value — helps in this process.
Here’s a recent letter that addresses this topic.
Dear Career Rescue:
When networking with others, I find myself struggling with what to say when asked what I am looking for. I have been told I either give too much information or not enough. What do I need to say and how do I know when I’ve said enough?
Here’s my answer:
This area is really challenging, and the challenge lies in making the most of your networking and expanding your contacts.
When you meet others, think about what you want to tell them so your conversation will lead to an exchange of information through questions and answers.
The outcome of your meetings is based on how well you describe yourself, what you do well and what interests you.
Develop an individual mission statement to describe yourself. Start by listing your skills and abilities. Think about what you like best, what you do best and what interests you.
Creating your brand will definitely help you stand out from the crowd and be remembered.
Branding helps customers identify a particular product, and it’s so important that companies spend millions of dollars to establish their brand.
Writing your own mission statement brings you the support you need during the down time of a job search. It can help remind you of what you are doing and keep you focused.
It’s easy to get distracted when time is passing, and there’s no job in sight. Your mission statement will help anchor you and keep you motivated.
Keep your statement to 3-5 sentences so you can communicate it in a clear, concise way.
Consider writing a mission statement then trying it out on friends or family members and ask them for feedback. Have them time you, so you can make your statement in a couple of minutes, and be sure they could understand what you do and what interests you.
This exercise alone can increase the productivity of your networking.
