27 / 40
•
Drop some comments about your last
game, the laughs you had at yourself
when your foursome did poorly, or
about how you want to golf more.
•
Keep some memorabilia at your desk.
Display a personal interest or a photo
of your favorite vacation/trip. This is
a great icebreaker. Also, remember
to ask others about their memorabilia
items or photos on their desks.
Ask. I have had great success in just
asking. Yes, it may feel awkward, but you
will probably only have to endure it once.
I have found that when people learn you
like fun, they are happy to include you.
Though golfing is a great catalyst for
networking, any activity can provide
these same opportunities for you to
grow your professional circle, get your
name and face out there, and keep you
from missing out on the conversations
that happen outside of the boardroom.
Remember, when you are given the
opportunity, you are still working. There
is an outcome, and your employer will
or should ask how it went, who you met,
and if you learned anything. This is not
an opportunity to hang out with the
colleagues you already know, overindulge
in alcohol, or enjoy the most expensive
dinner on the menu. That is a quick way
for you to lose the opportunity next time.
Volunteering
Volunteering is talked about repeatedly,
but I cannot stress how much these
activities can affect your career path (and
help others too!). The experience alone
is great, but the connections that you can
make can be even greater. You do not
have to make long-term commitments to
get the benefits. Do some research. Find
out what companies take part with which
charities. Be mindful of the activities you
participate in and what doors they can
help open. Make sure you keep a list of
the contacts you have met or connect
with them on a mutually agreed-upon
social media platform. LinkedIn is a
commonly used tool for professional
relationships, especially with people you
have recently met.
If your time is limited, you must
be strategic. Short-term involvement
in strategic activities could mean
participating in a one-day food drive
or volunteering to work at a charity
event. Setting yourself up for success
involves research, pre-networking, and
a prepared elevator pitch about yourself.
It may sound unorthodox to approach
volunteering in this way, but it is part
of the networking game played for
decades.
Long-term strategic involvement
can include sitting on a committee for
a charity or with a group that is in your
field, or a field that you want to become
involved in. Committees help increase
your opportunities to meet like-minded
professionals. Committees are great
steppingstones to one day landing a
seat on a Board of Directors. Longer
involvement also increases the pool of
contacts you have for future references.
I’m out there,
now what?
Great, you are at an event! People are
there to do the same thing as you are,
meet people. Agree to connect later with
those you already know and attempt to
meet new people. Here are a couple of
tips that will keep you as a welcomed
connection:
•
Pay attention to your appearance.
First impressions are everything.
Remember, the game is not always
fair, so manage the plays you can.
Good hygiene, businesses appropriate
clothing, and clean shoes are in your
control, so do your best.
•
Listen to people, ask about them and
leave the hard selling out of it. Say
their name. Ask about their roles, their
company, and even their future career
goals if the opportunity presents
itself. Also, don’t clam up when asked
a question. Conversations should flow
back and forth.
•
Remember when you leave a
conversation ask for their permission
to contact them. When they say yes,
send a brief message using whatever
platform works, social media or email,
that includes where or how you met.
In the future, when you go back
through your message history, it will
be there as a nice reminder for both
parties.
Networking and making the
effort to build professional
relationships can be hard
for some people. I challenge
those people who are shy or
do not love social situations to
network and connect with their
coworkers. Talk to them in
the lunchroom. Small talk is a
valuable tool to master. Those
who are sitting alone in the
lunchroom may have the same
feelings of apprehension as
you do. My advice is to just go
for it, every day, set down the
phone, and talk with someone.
Remember, it is better to have
ten strong mutually beneficial
relationships over hundreds
of soft connections on a social
media platform.
For those who find it
comfortable in a social setting,
be sure to make a spot for
those who need help grabbing
a chair and starting the
conversation. One day, you
could look to them for support.
AG
27
AGCAREERS.COM
AG & FOOD CAREER GUIDE