Adams & Garth Blog

Not a fan of networking functions? Get completely stressed out when confronted with a room full of people? Prefer more intimate settings to huge conferences and events?

If so, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, walking into a room full of strangers and starting a conversation is nothing short of nerve wracking for most people. But whether you’re already on the job or searching for a new job in Central Virginia, networking is a crucial component.

So if you’re shy, and feel you’re not networking as effectively as possible as a result, here are some suggestions to help you prosper:

1. Get involved.

How active are you in the organizations you belong to? If you’re not very, or not at all, that could be part of the problem. Instead, try to get more involved by joining the board, volunteering, or participating on a steering committee. This will give you the opportunity to not only meet other people in a more intimate setting, but also to develop more meaningful relationships with each one. In addition, getting actively involved will serve to add to your name recognition and credibility, which will make it easier to connect with other people.

2. Arrive early to an event.

You might think you should arrive a little late, but earlier is better. Not only is the setting more laid back, but people also haven’t really started to form groups yet – so you won’t feel like an outsider when you walk in.

3. Befriend the extrovert.

These are the people who seem to know everybody and who are naturally friendly and personable. By befriending the extrovert, he or she can introduce you to others, acting as a link and an icebreaker.

4. Look for other wallflowers.

If you’re at a large event and feeling overwhelmed, look for the wallflowers. These are people who are just as shy and who are waiting for others to come up and talk with them. So go ahead and strike up a conversation.

5. Realize networking is an investment.

Networking is like making an investment in your career or Central Virginia job search. You may not reap the rewards right away, but they will come in time – and in many cases, when you least expect them. So don’t expect overnight success from networking. But if you get more involved and make more of an effort, you will see results in time.

And if you’re networking in the hopes of finding a new job in Central Virginia, please contact Adams & Garth. We can connect you with a variety of job opportunities in your field!

Most Harrisonburg job seekers spend the majority of their time combing through classified ads and the Internet looking for good job opportunities. However, statistics show that more people land jobs through networking than through reading the classifieds.

So how can you leverage the power of networking to land that job and get ahead? Here are some tips:

Get connected.
With today’s social media tools, such as Facebook, it’s so easy to get in touch and remain connected with former co-workers, college classmates, and other colleagues. They may be working for a company who’s hiring, or may know someone who’s looking for someone just like you.

Talk to everyone, wherever you go.
It doesn’t matter if you’re at a cocktail party, wedding, business seminar, or on a plane, you never know who you’re going to meet if you just put in a little effort to talk to people.

Ask lots of questions.
Most everyone likes to talk about themselves. So when you’re networking, ask lots of questions. Not only will you build stronger relationships with your network of connections, but you might uncover a nugget of information that could help you land your next job.

Be a good listener.
Don’t you hate it when someone asks you a question and then starts looking around the room, not paying any attention to your answer? Well…guess what? Other people hate it when you do the same to them. So be a good listener. Ask pointed questions and listen with interest (whether authentic or not) as someone responds.

Create an elevator speech.
Create and practice a little 30-60 second overview of who you are and what you do for a living. So when someone asks that inevitable question – “what do you do?” – you have a strong and clear response.

Hand out business cards.
Make sure you always have a stack of business cards with you wherever you go. Also, get comfortable with handing them out.

Join a club.
Getting involved in a club or volunteering with an organization is a great way to network. It’s best if you join an association connected with your job interests, but not necessary.

If you’re searching for a new job opportunity in Harrisonburg, or anywhere in Central Virginia, please contact Adams & Garth. As a staffing agency serving Harrisonburg and Central Virginia, we know many of the top employers in the area and can give you access to job opportunities you won’t read about on the classified pages.