{"id":2585,"date":"2015-08-03T11:00:48","date_gmt":"2015-08-03T16:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/?p=2585"},"modified":"2015-08-03T13:43:27","modified_gmt":"2015-08-03T18:43:27","slug":"networking-tips-from-an-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/networking-tips-from-an-expert\/","title":{"rendered":"Networking Success in 20 Minutes: An Expert\u2019s Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you dread the idea of professional networking, you might want to set up a meeting with Marcia Ballinger. A former Capella University student and instructor, Ballinger is the co-founder of the Minneapolis-based executive search firm Ballinger-Leafblad and the author of The 20-Minute Networking Meeting<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> a guide to getting a job through networking. Ballinger says a few simple principles can help almost anyone\u2014including recent graduates\u2014get over the nervousness that comes with initiating and conducting a networking meeting.<\/p>\n

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Marcia Ballinger was Capella University\u2019s 110th<\/sup> student. Hear what it was like to be a student during Capella\u2019s early years, and why she decided to pursue a PhD.<\/em><\/p>\n

[powerpress url=”http:\/\/video.capellavideo.com\/nonCourse\/EducationMatters\/UniversityBlog\/BallingerPodcastClip.mp3″]<\/p>\n

transcript<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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She believes the most effective networking meetings are all about efficiency. \u201c20 minutes is all you need to have a really phenomenal networking meeting. Not 25. Not 45. Definitely not an hour,\u201d Ballinger says. \u201cShaking hands, saying hello, introducing yourself, and asking a couple of questions does not take an hour. You can accomplish that in 20 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s the best way to land a 20-minute meeting and make a memorable impression? Ballinger offers these tips:<\/p>\n

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1. Figure Out Your Connections.<\/h4>\n

Once you\u2019ve decided on the kind of job you hope to have, get the word out about your intentions. Let former coworkers, neighbors, friends, members of your faith community or bowling league, and even extended family know about your search. Ask for their help in identifying people you should meet. \u201cMost of us get jobs through our third ring,\u201d Ballinger says. \u201cOur friends and family connect us with a second ring of people, who ultimately lead us to friends and acquaintances we never even knew.”<\/p>\n

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2. Ask for the Meeting.<\/h4>\n

Contact the person via email or phone and introduce yourself. Establish the mutual connection (\u201cYour former coworker Jean is my neighbor\u201d or \u201cI understand that you and my friend Keith went to business school together\u201d) and clearly state your wish to have a networking meeting. \u201cTelling them you just need 20 minutes makes it seem like a small investment,\u201d Ballinger says.<\/p>\n

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3. Be Persistent But Respectful.<\/h4>\n

Networking is like gambling\u2014it\u2019s all about playing the odds. You won\u2019t get everyone to respond, but the more people you reach out to and the more follow-up you do, the more likely it is that you\u2019ll get some sort of response. Busy people may not respond to your first email, but Ballinger says you should give it a couple of tries.<\/p>\n

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4. Manage the Meeting to the Minute.<\/h4>\n

Plan out how you intend to use the time. Here\u2019s what Ballinger recommends: Introduce yourself and what you\u2019re looking for in just a few words, then switch to some questions that indicate you\u2019ve done your homework and know a little about the person and his or her business. Keep things to 20 minutes\u2014even if the interviewee insists on giving you more time, Ballinger says, \u201cAt most, stay 30 minutes.\u201d Don\u2019t be abrupt, but respect their time and you will make an impression. \u201cMake them wish they had more time with you,\u201d Ballinger says.<\/p>\n

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5. Send Thank-Yous to Everyone.<\/h4>\n

Send a thank-you note to the person you\u2019ve met with, prompting them to connect you with anyone they mentioned during the meeting. Also don\u2019t forget to send a note to the person who led you to that contact. He or she will be impressed that you followed through and will be much more willing to offer additional assistance.<\/p>\n

Finally, Ballinger says, remember that the point of the meeting is simple: introduce yourself, learn a little, and leave a good impression so you\u2019ll be remembered if an opportunity arises. \u201cPeople tend to talk about themselves,\u201d Ballinger says. \u201cI tell job seekers, \u2018Keep the chat about yourself to one minute and then start asking questions. You\u2019re there to learn.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Capella <\/em>Career Center<\/em><\/a> offers networking tips, job search tools, career counseling, and more. Its mission is to empower students and alumni to proactively manage their careers and make meaningful, and effective, career decisions.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201c20 minutes is all you need to have a really phenomenal networking meeting.\u201d A Capella University graduate, executive search firm founder, and author shares how to make a great impression in a short amount of time. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":2610,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[4],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2585"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2587,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585\/revisions\/2587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stgwww.capella.edu\/blogs\/cublog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}