The Best Holiday Gift: A Network

Networking Your Way Through the Holidays

 

Erin O'Connor Jones, Director of Candidate Services and Managing Associate

Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group LLC

 

In most professional atmospheres, across every sector, things slow down for the holidays. People simply have less time to work because they are busy socializing with friends, colleagues, and family. So, it goes to follow that job seeking should slow down as well, right? Wrong! What is networking if not socializing with friends, colleagues, and family? And, what better time to network than with people who are joyous in the holiday season and a bit less stressed at work? Follow my logic here? Good. Now, let’s make that holiday networking work.

Before we talk about schmoozing strategy and some useful networking tactics, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. You are looking for a job. This potentially means that: you might want something from the person with whom you are networking and feel awkward about asking; or you might feel shy or exposed about the fact that you or currently unemployed; or perhaps you are worried about seeming needy with someone with whom you haven’t connected in some time. I say pish-posh to this. Everyone has walked in your shoes before, whether it is learning to ask for help, discussing a difficult situation, or reconnecting after too much time. Get over it, get out of your own way, and get going.

Beat the holiday blues and accept social invitations. You may feel overwhelmed or hesitant about making conversation, especially if you are currently “between positions,” but don’t use your unemployment as an excuse to stay home and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas, or It’s a Wonderful Life for the second (or tenth) time. As painful as it can feel, joining the party circuit can have big rewards, such as catching up with former colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. Plus, you never know if the Ghost of Christmas Future is lurking around the corner to show you to your next job.

Consider the invitations you receive and, if you can, accept all of them. You may be exhausted from all the talking and networking, but it’ll pay off, especially if you are strategic about it. As you look at your busy social calendar, think through the company you’ll be keeping. If possible, try to get an advance peek at the attendee list or ask your colleague and friends for information.

For example, you may have had your eyes on a dream job with an organization for some time, and have accepted an invitation to attend a dinner on their behalf. A good job seeker might consider that their CEO or HR Director will be there, but an excellent job seeker will be prepared with business cards and seek out an introduction. Remember: the holiday party, like any nonprofit gala or fundraiser, is not a time to conduct business or (eek!) hand over a resume. Get your introduction, ask for an opportunity to set up an appointment, and allow them to continue go about their own agenda of thanking their staff, celebrating their colleagues, or promoting their cause to their own target audience. You should do the same, circulating to gather more information about the organization so that you can be even smarter when you follow up for that already discussed coffee or lunch.

Make new friends, but keep the old ones. Think about all the invitations you receive at this time of the year – cookie swaps, holiday cocktails, celebrations at your place of worship, school plays and recitals, and even the dreaded high school reunions. There is networking value in each and every one of them, for you never know who will show up, or who they might bring. If your invitations are not trickling in this year, consider planning an impromptu or informal gathering among your friends or former colleagues. It’s a great way to reconnect and network for new opportunities.

Once at an event, try to push your own comfort level. It’s easy to stay glued to the people you already know at any event, but if your goal is to build your network, you’ll need to make forays into unknown territories. Lean upon those you know to get introductions to those you don’t, and get ready to meet as many new people as possible. Consider this trick: begin at the left side of the room and circulate around until you end up on the right, all the while aiming to meet at least 10 new people along the way. Or if you’ve been lucky enough to see an RSVP list in advance: create at least three targets and make sure you exchange business cards with them, with a plan to follow up the next business day.

As you meet new people, turn your interactions into an opportunity to hear about their work, interests, and plans for the New Year. It’s also a chance to avoid dreaded small talk by asking interesting questions about their life, work experience, and educational background; these all lead into discovering how they ended up in their current position. Not only will you learn new things, but you’ll also hear interesting and entertaining stories that you can use to spark conversation when you follow-up in the New Year.

Send holiday cards and New Year wishes. In addition to accepting social invitations, you can reconnect with friends, extended family, and former colleagues with holiday greetings, whether with traditional paper cards, e-cards, or a mix of both depending on their appropriateness to your audience. Don’t worry if you’ve lost touch with people; everyone uses the holidays as a chance to reach out, catch up, and share news of transitions personal and professional.

You can also use the greetings as a reason to call an old friend or colleague in the New Year, especially if you shared your desire for a new job. Chances are good that you’ve already heard from or will hear from old friends and colleagues in the next few weeks including those that are looking for a job or new career. Consider how you can reciprocate and provide help to them, especially now that you’ve got your contact list updated from your own card sending extravaganza.

Be thankful. Now is also the time to give thanks to people that have helped you during the year. Did you do an informational interview with someone, have a phone call with or connect with someone during the year that you’ve lost touch with? If so, send an email or card and thank them again. Your thoughtfulness won’t go unnoticed. We all love to be thanked and in addition to being polite, it’s important to a successful job search because it reminds them of your search, shows off your great manners, and might even spark an idea of two.

Set goals. If your shopping is nearly complete, how about your list of New Year resolutions? Everyone is going to ask, so why not make it catchy and interesting? My list has grown in length the last week, but still includes reducing my personal waistline and expanding my professional network. Make sure your list includes realistic goals, setting yourself up for success right away.

It’s my wish for you that the holiday season be bright, joyful and filled with new contacts, job leads, and especially, a new job offer!