Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust Development Associate Andy Ancel will speak about networking strategies at the July 13 meeting in Orange of the Housatonic River Job Network.
Job seekers are told to devote between 70 and 75 percent of their time to networking. But networking can be an enigma. How should target contacts be approached? How do you maintain top-of-mind awareness? What can you do if you meet with a target contact and nothing of substance comes from it? Is there a right way or a wrong way?
Ancel will discuss in his presentation the proper fundamentals of networking and explain why it is so important to the job search. He will also demonstrate how to create your own “networking 2 referrals” program to help your search move forward.
Networking is primarily focused on relationship building. Ancel will take a detailed look at the methods of nurturing relationships and building a referral program. Topics will include when and how to reach out to contacts; why word-of-mouth doesn’t always work and what you can do about it; how can you keep top-of-mind-awareness without being a pest; how often you should contact someone you’re networking with; and what can be done if you do network with someone and nothing comes of it.
Ancel is an operations professional with prior experience in consulting, account management, project management and finance administration. He has recently transitioned into the nonprofit space; his current focus is on grant writing, building professional relationships to retain and find donors, and corporate partner database development.
The event begins at 11 a.m. at the Case Memorial Library at 176 Tyler City Rd. in Orange.
The Housatonic River Job Network is an open group dedicated to those underemployed or in transition that meets monthly to share leads, hear guest speakers and obtain information about job searches. Email alexy56@hotmail.com for more information.