Tis the season. . .for shopping, and caroling and spreading
good cheer. And. . .if you’re in the job market, ‘tis the season’ for
networking. For getting out there and talking to people. The hustle and bustle
of the season, including holiday parties and festivities, provide perfect opportunities
for “running into” friends and family you haven’t seen for awhile, as well as
meeting new people.
Accept invitations to holiday gatherings. Introduce yourself and shake hands with people
who may have forgotten you and people you’ve not met before. Spend a little
time getting acquainted or reacquainted. Listen and show genuine interest in folks
and in what is going on in their lives. And, when they ask “So, what do you do?”
or “What are you doing now?” you can tell your story.
Don’t be so bold as to ask for jobs. Make your goal instead
to build rapport. It is appropriate to ask if you can call later for advice or
to hear more about a particular person or organization. Take time and make the
effort to jot down names and titles of people you talk with so you can follow
up with a note saying how nice it was to meet/talk with them.
Take the challenge. Meet new people this holiday season. You
never know when you might make a new friend . . . or meet a future coworker or
even a future boss.
Happy holidays!
