Networking: How to Remember Names

Recently a friend told me he was at a block party. He talked with a guy who was an engineer, like my friend. They bonded over robotics. Then, my friend moved on to the next house. He talked with one of the people, another engineer, who happened to be in the market for a robotics expert.

My friend said, “Man, I see how networking can work – if only I could have remembered the guy’s name, he could have had a job! All I could remember is that he had on funny pants and I didn’t think that would be too professional to mention.”

Has that ever happened to you? All you are trying to remember is a name.

You remember her face, you think, but the name escapes you. And, she’s not wearing a name tag either. (Who wears name tags at summer parties?)

What’s in a name? It’s the one word that’s music to your listener’s ears. If you’re great with faces but have a tough time remembering names, here are three tips excerpted from my book, “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers:”

1. Associate the names.

Alliteration is especially helpful for large groups or if more than one person has the same first name. Barbara in blue, Mary the mortgage broker or Frank the financial planner can help you remember who is who.

At one networking event, we actually went around the group and introduced ourselves by saying one or two words that described us, followed by our name. I still remember, “Calling Card Candy” who sold telephone calling cards.

2. Learn something unique or special about this person.

During your brief conversation you may discover interesting facts. Put this on the back of the person’s business card. For example, Mary speaks seven languages. Ramona used to be a professional juggler!

3. Follow up.

If you make promises to others during your networking event or meeting it is important to follow up promptly. If you promised to send them an article on their topic of interest, jot that down on their business card – then do it the next day.

These are just a few tips. Next time you’re at a block party and you meet a guy wearing funny pants who’s in robotics, you’ll remember his name. How? Why it’s Rob in Robotics with the Retro pants.

Want to learn even more about networking? Enroll in my upcoming four-call Rock Your Network® in the New Economy telecourse! Starts August 12 with early bird deals NOW: http://bit.ly/97VCTD

Post excerpted from “Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers.”

Job Fest 2010 – July 29

Take 5 to Manage & Track Your Social Networks

Social Networking Wheel

With all the social networking sites, it can get overwhelming to manage them all as well as track what you’ve got online. With that in mind, here are five tools I use to track my social networking efforts and some for simultaneous posting. These tools will help you Rock Your Network® using just five minutes a day!

1. bit.ly – This is a terrific tool to shorten your links AND track those used in your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Plaxo Pulse and other social networks. This way, you can quickly and succinctly communicate your thought leadership by linking to your blog post or cool article. PLUS it’s FREE. Get your account.
2. Hootsuite.com and ping.fm – I use ping.fm regularly if I want to post to all my networks and link it to a blog post or cool article. Same can be said for hootsuite.
3. Got an iPhone? If so, I use Tweetdeck to manage my posts, post from off-site locations (like Summerfest, conferences, or other places of interest), check what people are saying, and review/respond to my direct messages (DMs).
4. Want to see where your Twitter account rates? Check out Klout.com and find out.
5. Want to track it all – even your videos? Check out Addictomatic.com. This site does it all. Tracks everything you do online.

All of the above tools are FREE.

Want more social networking tips to help you network using just five minutes a day?

JOB SEEKERS: Contact me at consultant@knocks.com and put “SOCIAL NETWORKING REPORT” in the subject line.

Please include your name and snail mail along with your email – as I had a printer overrun for a recent presentation, “Social Networking: Get Personal; Get Hired!”

Did I mention my report is also FREE? First come, first served. I expect to run out quickly.

Get Personal: Take Your Social Network Offline

Courtesy of Springwise.com

Long gone are the days when “online” was synonymous with social isolation. In fact, we’re now witnessing the opposite: technology is driving people to connect and meet up with others in the “real world”. This mass mingling makes for an interesting trend, begging to be turned into new services for consumers. Here are five such services:

1. MEETUP EVERYWHERE — Meetup’s new service, Meetup Everywhere, is an open and free platform that helps people build communities based on a common interest. Organisers can map offline gatherings and share announcements and updates through Facebook and Twitter accounts. One recent initiative: ReadyMade magazine partnering with Etsy.com to encourage DIY crafters to host local “craft-ups”.

2. GATSBY — Gatsby is a mobile app that introduces people according to shared interests and locations, using Foursquare. Users tell Gatsby their Foursquare account details and describe their interests. Gatsby then searches for like-minded people locally and texts them with first names and what they have in common.

3. LOOPT MIX — Loopt Mix is a free iPhone app for finding and chatting to other users nearby. Users identify shared interests by means of tags and preferences on their personal profiles. There’s also a set of search filters for ad hoc link-ups. Favoured contacts can be flagged to provide users with quick access to their core social circle.

4. STREETSPARK — Another iPhone app using location to get people in touch, StreetSpark has a specifically romantic intent. Users describe themselves and the kind of person they hope to meet. The app then informs them when a possible match is nearby. No contact information is divulged automatically; people can chat and choose whether or not to identify themselves.

5. LOVESTRUCK — Also in the match-making business, UK-based Lovestruck is aimed at single professionals. The website and mobile apps use work locations as a base to link potential lovers. Customers can display their availability through status updates, and iPhone owners can also see if other users are in their current vicinity when they’re on the move.

===============

Time to take your social network offline and get personal – that is, meet those in your network in person. The above are several resources for you to connect with them. The goal is to build your networking relationships. It’s a two-way street.

Want more help building your network? Check out Rock Your Network® Online.

iPhone 4, Personal Branding, and Your Job Search

Apple has raving fans, do you?

Here’s an excerpt from today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “As long as Apple continues to be innovative, as long as they stay ahead of the curve, people are going to stand in line and want the phone,” Cutler said. “If they keep putting in these great features, I’ll keep buying.”

Check out the key words here – “innovative, stay ahead of the curve…”

People are buying the new iPhone 4 – despite the “poor economy.” Why? Innovation, staying ahead of the curve, and raving fans.

Are you staying ahead of the curve?

Even if you’ve been off work for some time, have you been keeping up-to-date on your skills?

Example:

One of my clients, a plumber, knew her computer skills were soft, while trade skills were exceptional. She was recently downsized and immediately enrolled in computer courses and upgraded her laptop. She will be ready to roll quickly.

One career-changer learned Twitter and other social media to make a change and land new connections. Now he’s a huge fan of these tools and building his brand solidly online.

These are go-getters who are continuing to learn and upgrade their skills. Are you?

Are you staying ahead of the curve? Are you an early adopter? If so, your chances of getting hired are greater than others who stand still.

Innovative – how innovative have you been ABOUT your job search? Are you spraying and praying? That is, spraying your resume all over the internet job boards and praying someone calls you?

OR are you being innovative?

Have you targeted your top companies? Are you going direct to company decision-makers? Are you networking (not net-begging)? How are you following up? Are you following up?

Don’t tell me there’s no name on the ad. Find out the name! If there’s a company name – you can get to the decision maker for your field.

Are you using social media like LinkedIn (my fave for job seekers), Twitter (check out Tweetmyjobs.com), Facebook? Hey, Betty White – at 88-and-a-half no less – got a job using Facebook – she hosted Saturday Night Live! So, that completely wipes out the age barrier issue to social media.

Do you have a blog? If so, are you demonstrating your thought leadership?

One of my clients has landed several offers because he has an excellent blog, and now a newsletter, which demonstrate his ability to do the job – which does happen to be public speaking about marketing and social media.

What’s your area of expertise? Can you create a blog on the topic?

Raving fans – have you raving fans who lobby for your success? Check out your reference list, how old is it? How many of those listed have you connected with recently? Do they know what you’ve been doing lately? If not, call. Send your latest resume. Let them know what you’ve been up to.

One of my clients did this, and learned that her old college professor died. Yeah. She had graduated in the ’80′s and still had the professor listed. Time to update!

LinkedIn is a super place to start culling for references (recommendations). The easiest way to get them? GIVE them. And you can post your LinkedIn link right on your resume for an instant reference check.

How else can you be like Apple? Brainstorm with friends and share your innovative job search ideas here!

Want more tips? Check out my newsroom and sign up for my newsletter.