3 Tips for Effective Networking

You may not be thrilled by the aspect of networking. In fact, if you are a recent MBA degree who has completed a masters in business administration program, you may be absolutely terrified or bored at the thought of having to interact with strangers when attending stuffy events. Sadly, networking is a very big deal if you plan to succeed either in the corporate world or if you have plans to start your own business.

Do you know of any other way you can meet people in your industry that can act as your mentor, or steer you in the direction you need to go to meet those who can help you? The bottom line is that you must network, whether you enjoy it or not. However, networking is more than simply passing out your business cards or making meaningless small talk.

Not only can you expand your professional circle by networking, you can also have fun. So, it does not matter whether you are attending a very professional networking event or you are meeting at a cocktail party, there are several things you can do to ensure the networking session is beneficial to all parties.

It Goes Both Ways

Networking is always a two-way street. After graduating with your online MBA degree, you will want to make sure that everyone you meet knows as much as possible about your career or business as you know about theirs.

Begin every conversation with the basics:

• Your name
• Your position
• Your company
• Your affiliation

After the introductions and the exchange of your personal information, there are some additional questions that you could ask like:

• What makes your company different from your competitions’ businesses?
• What types of clients do you have?
• Who makes the purchasing decisions in your company?

Put Yourself Out There

It is called meet and mingle for a reason. Take up a hobby or a class in something you are interested in. For example, you may decide to take up golfing or attend a culinary class. This will allow you to meet people in a relaxed atmosphere who share the same interests you have.

Chances are good that in your city that are bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants and bars that cater to a certain group of people or professionals. If you are involved in public relations, find out where the PR professionals in your area hang out.

Do Not Forget to Ask for a Second Date

Second dates are not only for that romantic connection you may be trying to make. When you are in a room full of professionals, it can be somewhat overwhelming trying to make your way across the room and trying to make sure you are spending as much time with people as possible. Even if the initial introduction went over well, it may still not be enough to determine if the conversation should continue or not.

By securing another date to meet, you will be able to find out whether the professional relationship has potential or not.

Your contact list will increase, so it is important that you re-evaluate your networking list every so often. Someone you just met may be more beneficial to you at this point in your career than someone you met a year ago. However, do not burn any bridges with your contacts. Continue to check on them to let you know you are still available if they need your assistance.