by Karen P. Katz on March 5, 2010
Kudos to Lindsey and Kate, who organized this well-attended event at the Public House in Center City, Philadelphia.
What is “Speed Networking?” It is an event designed to promote business connections, in this case among a group of professionals who already share an interest in careers in the “Sustainability” sector of business. In my role as a resource for people interested in this sector, this association-sponsored event was sure to attract people I would be able to relate to.
How does the event work? Participants were assigned either letters or numbers. Letters remained seated at small tables; numbers changed seats after a specified period of time until most attendees had an opportunity to meet one another. In other words, letter “C” met with number “3;” then number “3″ moved over to meet with letter “D.”
Where does “speed” enter the picture? These events are staged to promote a quick introduction to as many people as possible, with time afterward for socializing. Time seems to be our scarcest resource these days: I was able to meet and make an initial assessment of 10 people in 65 minutes.
WIIFY-What’s In It For You?
- For those who are not comfortable with face-to-face networking, this is an opportunity to practice in a controlled environment and for a limited period of time – no need to reach-out to people ‘cuz they’ll come to you.
- This type of event preserves a bit of anonymity – you may find 1-2 gems among the 10 contacts you might make, and there is no shame in leaving the 8 or so other contacts to be mined later or not at all.
- In just a few minutes, participants share business cards and discuss their goals, share their “1-minute commercial,” ask for recommendations”, etc. Take notes, follow-up, be a giver…
- Your group can suggest some “prompts” or conversation starters, or leave it to the participants. Lindsey and Kate suggested 6-minute blocks of time, so there was ample time to share information and determine if connections were worth pursuing.
I’d like to hear about your experiences: is this a legitimate method to build your network, or is it too contrived? So far, my take on it is that speed networking could be a great ice-breaker for a group training exercise or meeting. I recommend it as a NYNT – Nurture Your Network Tool. Thanks again to Lindsey and Kate, (and to whomever jammed the parking meter outside the Public House so I could park for free)!
by Karen P. Katz on November 10, 2009
The Reach Personal Branding group recently circulated a post that deserves wider circulation. William Arruda, a respected advocate for personal branding and co-author of Career Distinction, commented on a NYT piece by Thomas Friedman called, “The New Untouchables.”
Arruda makes the point that those who will survive and flourish during challenging times are those who can distinguish themselves – those who can become the purple cow in the herd of brown and white cows. As I prepare to meet MBA students who aspire to be the corporate and entrepreneurial leaders of tomorrow (Net Impact Conference 11/13 & 11/14), it seems timely to extrapolate these words from William’s post:
As I see it, this is all about personal branding. What do you offer that is not available from anyone else? What emotional brand attributes do you add onto your competence that gets people excited about you? What unique talents and abilities put you in a class by yourself?
Will you make the case to a prospective employer that you understand their issues – that you are prepared to integrate your education, experience, and personal qualities in a plan that makes an overwhelming case for hiring and retaining you. Will you make yourself indispensable?
by Karen P. Katz on February 17, 2009
It is possible to make lemonade…A familiar ingredient in the refreshing alternative to economic woe: the Business section of your local newspaper…
- Today it is the Philadelphia Inquirer that offers a glimpse into what's happening in the regional job market. The article that attracted my attention refers to the Information Technology (IT) efficiencies that are funded in the 2009 Economic Stimulus Package. Read the full article in the Philadelphia Inquirer to learn more about the $2 billion in loans and grants, plus $17 billion in Medicare reimbursement for health-related IT spending.
- So what, you may ask…WIIFY (What's in it for you?) - Good question… These funds are targeted to go to doctors, medical practices, and hospitals – those who need to adopt the IT efficiencies called for to improve our health care system. These are small businesses who are likely to hire outside consultants to implement these changes to their business models.
- Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D., Phila) wrote the new legislation that steered the funds toward practitioners rather than insurance companies. Financial incentives to doctors and hospitals will be available as early as October 2010, so these small businesses will be looking for guidance ASAP.
Another ingredient in the lemonade is networking: conduct online and off-line networking to find partners, perform competitive analysis, and identify links to decision-makers…
- Lots of information available is available on this topic – see the archives of Career Acceleration Notes, as well as recommended websites and blogs
- If you missed-it, read or listen to the NPR Marketplace report on Social Networks and Layoffs
- A few key points from the NPR program: * Hyper-networking combines online and off line networking *Jobs are not being posted *Decision-makers are using Google in-place of gossip to vet prospects
Posted by Karen P. Katz
by Karen P. Katz on December 18, 2008
Now I know what a fly feels like when it hovers over people who are working fast and furiously. Instead of being the one on the hot seat to guide new users through the elements of LinkedIn, I was like a "fly on the wall" during Jason Alba's 90-minute teleseminar, held 12-17-08. The program was sponsored by Experts Connection™
and hosted by Kathy Simmons, President and CEO of NETSHARE.
The program was structured well, with accompanying slides that were clear and not distracting. Jason moved through the content quickly, but paused frequently to check for understanding and questions. Targeted toward executives who may not have fully embraced social networking tools, Jason offered a few key learning points:
- Social networking is key to marketing your brand. Clarification of your brand is essential to career management. Not sure about this? Not convinced? Think about Barack Obama, the most successful job seeker in the land and winner of Ad Agency's Marketer of the Year
- Online networking tools can make it easier for those who are not natural "schmoozers." The Internet can make it easier to reach-out to new people, reacquaint yourself with former colleagues, and step outside your comfort zone to build new connections. The big "but" here is that online networking should make it easier to conduct the warm networking that is still key to your success, e.g. association meetings, breakfast with colleagues, lunch with people in related fields, etc.
- Of the tools available, all have value, however, LinkedIn.com is not optional for anyone who is serious about career management. Jason is also a huge fan of Yahoo & Google Groups (find those whose interests are similar to yours and join); Twitter (the fast-growing micro-blog), and blogging in general (my suggestion – individuals might try the new application, Google sites)
- LinkedIn.com's value proposition is to facilitate connections with those you know (and may have forgotten) and those you want to know. An effective profile is key to increasing your odds of being found by colleagues and recruiters; it may be wise to hire a professional to help create the profile and learn the ropes of social marketing.
This Experts Connection program included Jason's thoughts about Facebook, no longer a tool reserved for college students or Friday night plans. Some key points:
- There are no 2nd or 3rd degree connections through Facebook
- It is more casual, personal, and intimate
- While job seekers and recruiters have made inroads into Facebook, it is still more social than its business sibling, LinkedIn.
To offer the greatest value to participants, Jason focused on LinkedIn and talked about many of the features and new applications available to members. To learn more, contact a career professional or look for
the 2nd edition of Jason's book, I'm on LinkedIn, Now What.
Those who have worked with me and/or readers of my blog and website will recognize Jason Alba – he is the self-made social marketing guru and author of books and blogs: I'm on LinkedIn, Now What and I'm on Facebook, Now What. A software engineer by training and experience, he founded JibberJobber.com in response to his own frustration with a job search. JibberJobber.com has evolved into the "go-to" career management tool for those conducting a passive or active job search. In the name of full-disclosure, I am honored to be one of Jason's partners in JibberJobber.com
by Karen P. Katz on November 1, 2008
Studs Terkel died in Chicago yesterday at age 96. He enjoyed a full life to be sure, with the possible loss of an opportunity to cast his ballot for a fellow community organizer, Barack Obama. Click here to read an excerpt from an October 23rd interview with Studs about Election 2008.
As one whose first "professional" job was with a community-based employment development agency... …with two sons who work to repair the earth, one through higher education and another via social entrepreneurship/BOP…whose family has walked the talk, I join Studs Terkel and Barack Obama in celebrating the value proposition that "community organizers" can bring to the workplace.
Some may scoff or snarl at the idea that "do-gooders" offer value to the traditional world of employment (e.g. Rudolph Guiliani at the Republican National Convention), but with the perspective of an interviewer like Studs Terkel, let's look at what a hiring manager may find:
- Excellent interpersonal skills – listen twice as much as they talk to people who are not often heard
- Needs assessment ability – understand the needs that are underneath the expressed frustrations
- Problem solving/Resourcefulness – able to identify needed resources and people
- Project/Program management – ability to keep a lot of balls in the air, all headed for home-plate
- Sales/Marketing ability - accountable for outcomes; identify continued and new funding sources
- Communication tools – written, verbal, print, visual, audio, Web 2.0, and in several languages
The service that community organizers perform is as valuable as that offered by our military, our teachers, our police officers and fire-fighters, and by journalists, broadcasters, and interviewers like Studs Terkel, who respectfully chronicled American workers since 1957.
