I've heard it more than once. "I don't have time to talk to people who can't help me." That just isn't true. You never know who can help you
Jibberjobber has a great post sharing the shift in willingness to network from "no" to "yes". It also cites some recommended reading to assist in developing a comfort level with networking.
Networking is not asking for a job or a job lead. It is acquiring information. This information may lead to a job.
I've said it before, I'm not a very good question-asker. Sometimes I am not even a very good listener, so I look for help in these areas. I found a list a questions long ago, and I don't know who to give credit to. But these are nice, open ended questions to get a job search networking meeting going!
- Tell me about your business.
- How is business?
- What is happening in the industry?
- How do you do what you do?
- What exactly do you offer your clients or customers?
- What is the history of this industry locally and how was this business started? What are the most significant factors affecting your business today?
- How have changes in technology most affected your business?
- How has your business/industry been affected by the recession/past economic climate?
- How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years?
- What future direction do you see the company taking?
- What is the greatest demand for your services or product?
- Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company? Which department feels it the most?
- How do you differ from your competition?
- Describe your star employee.
- What are the qualities of people who perform best in this business?
- How do you think most of the employees would describe this workplace?
- If this company was known for 3 things as a workplace, what do you think those 3 would be?
- How would you describe your company culture?
- What trends do you see in the future that will affect your organization and industry?
- What do you think the company will look like 5 years from now?
I hope you have fun using some of these the next time you meet someone new and ask what they do.
Ken, thank you so much! Good luck using them, let me know which ones work best for you!
Posted by: Career Sherpa | July 22, 2009 at 05:17 AM
Great List Hannah!! Thanks
Posted by: Ken Lewis | July 21, 2009 at 03:24 PM