The Networking Jerk - Ch 6 of Never Eat Alone

April 5th, 2007 by digerati

This is Chapter 3 of the Never Eat Alone series at Catch a Gideon. Points from Mr. Ferrazzi are in bold. I’m asking that you react to the quotes through comments. Share you reaction to each as well as your experiences in college and the real world.

Don’t schmooze: have something to say, and say it with passion; have something to offer when you speak; has this person appealed to me emotionally?; have they said they could help me?; is there a commonality between us?

Don’t come to the party empty handed.

Who would you want to meet, from any era, etc? I have no idea, but they better be an amazing conversationalist. People usually answer this question by saying Einstein or something, usually someone they think is smart and has had a unique experience. But really what they want to know is answers to a few dumb questions. (What was it like inventing relativity?). I’d much rather meet someone who can talk about anything.

Be transparent: “I am what I am.” People respond with trust when they know you’re dealing straight with them.

Don’t be too efficient. Reaching out to others is not a numbers game. Your goal is to make genuine connections with people you can count on. Alternatively, being liked can be the most potent, constructive force for getting business done. Those who are best at it don’t network, they make friends.

I always have to laugh at job fairs when people go from one table to the next handing out resumes and “networking” in an attempt to get a job. I much prefer to know who is going to be there, and talk to the 2-3 most interesting (to me) organizations. That’s it. I also like to ask the recruiters who they would be talking to at the job fair. The answers are usually interesting (especially in the government) since people have often worked for several of the companies or agencies present. It gives you a good picture of who they are and you don’t waste time (yours and theirs) by waiting inline to hand in a resume for a position you don’t really want.

———-

Never Eat Alone is one of the best networking books written, period. Buy it now and follow along as Catch a Gideon goes through each chapter of the book.