Getting a Clue When it Comes to Networking

The term "networking" gets a lot of slack. Most new grads are eager to start networking but aren't sure how. And if you've been in the professional world for a few years, you probably don't keep up with networking unless you have been recently unemployed.

Regardless, I enjoyed this article, "Thirteen Networking Mistakes." In it, the author discusses being "clueless" about networking.

I didn't smarten up about the goal of networking--or the importance of selecting the right network--until I dove in. I attended a meeting of a local media/PR group a few years back. After shelling out about $25 for the lunch, I went into the room and tried to spark up as many conversations as possible. ($25 isn't cheap, especially for a lunch with strangers, so I wanted to get the most out of it.)

Anyway, I managed to overcome my shy side and made a few new pals. Great! The problem? They were all in the same boat as me, looking for work. There were writers looking for designers to buddy up to, hoping the designers needed to liven up their visuals with exciting content. The designers were hoping the writers could bring them new clients. Neither side really had the clients that the other wanted. We were all "starving artists" for the most part.

Point is, if I was there to forge connections, I agree it was beneficial. But it would have taken more than one lunch to do that and I had such a bad experience that I never went back. To me, I'm in networking to make money and get leads. This was more for other creatives that wanted to commiserate or talk about computer programs. The other writers I met could hardly keep themselves afloat, so I knew I wasn't going to get work out of it. Same with the designers and "agencies"--most were one-man shops that did copywriting "in-house" to save money. (This explains why there are many sucktastic websites out there!)

Needless to say, nothing good came out of this, which is why when I network now, I ask myself two questions:

• 1. What do I want to get out of this?
• 2. What types of people do I want to meet?

See, for me, I don't have much of a desire to meet other copywriters--I'd rather get new jobs. So when I network, I go to broad business functions where I may be able to find a graphic designer that needs a copywriter to add content to his designs, but I can also find a hospital that needs an article for its newsletter or perhaps an insurance company that wants a new website. Copywriting reaches all industries, so I have to target all industries. I want to meet people in these industries, who can pass my name on to other business owners they know. By just meeting writers, I was closing doors because they were too reluctant to sub out work. (I don't blame them, so am I!)

New grads can expect to find plenty of networking, but in a similar respect I have mentioned, ask yourself what you want to get out of it. Are you looking for a mentor? Maybe you have a job and part of that is to get new leads? There are a variety of objectives so be sure to see what you can get out of it. If you're just in the market for some new friends, it's great for that too.

Another thing is to be aware that it can cost money. I'm not one to eat meals with strangers, so I am more drawn to cocktail mixers or events at libraries or other public places. Ask about memberships, too--some groups won't let you come unless you purchase a costly membership. On the other hand, your employer may pay for your membership if you're representing the company.

Think about what you want out of networking and do what's beneficial to you. With so many options out there, you've got to be selective--and you've got to get a clue!!