Most of us have heard the phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”  Granted this is a bit of stretch, you clearly need to have the skills to succeed in any position, but the significance of networking is not a stretch. Networking skills are very valuable and if used correctly, advantageous to your career.

First, you need to come up with a value statement, also known as an elevator pitch. Delivery is key so you must create something that sounds natural.

For example, “Hi, my name is Stephanie. I’m a freelance graphic designer. I design logos, advertisements, marketing collateral, you name it. I do it all and love everything about design.”

This doesn’t have to be said verbatim, but as long as you write something up and rehearse it, you will have a better chance of not stumbling over your words. Be sure to include these points in your statement:

  • Name
  • Position / Career / Title (do not say “I used to…”)
  • Transitional phrase
  • What do you do (one verb)
  • Target group that is impacted by the verb
  • The goal you help them to accomplish
  • Share genuine emotion about what you do

The idea of networking or “schmoozing” is not natural to many of us. This doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Just think of it like this, networking is all about selling yourself and who better to sell yourself than you?! You have to engage others by listening to them and gaining their respect and trust. You might be reading this and thinking “easier said than done,” but there is a way to accomplish this without being awkward or too salesman like.

Next time you’re going to an event to network, try following these guidelines:

  • Research the event to find out the types of people/clients that will be attending. This way you can think of a general topic ahead of time that most would be      interested in discussing.
  • Use your own experiences to add to the conversation.
  • Ask people about their work.

Remember to do your research and focus on how you can engage with others.