Networking: - Interacting with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further your career.
This lesson will give you some good hints on successful networking, as well as helping you to practise some business vocabulary. Read through the article and try to fit the gaps with the business vocabulary listed below.
Is networking an important part of your career? How do you meet people that may be useful for your profession? Do you have business cards?
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Lesson by Caroline
Remember that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and _1_ and seeing how you can help others.
Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making _2_, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections.
Visit as many groups as possible that interest you. Notice the tone and attitude of the group. Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the _3_ appear competent? Many groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.
Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the _4_ and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
Become known as a powerful _5_ for others. When you are known in this way, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.
Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for whom, and what makes your doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get _6_, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.
Call those you meet who may _7_ from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.
Now choose the correct missing words:
