Networking by Phone - Advice from a Successful Networker
Entrepreneur, consultant, blogger-extrordinaire, and all around success Pamela Slim’s most recent podcast is four full minutes of solid information aimed at making you (and me) a better networker. In this podcast Networking tip - use the phone!, Pamela encourages listeners to step away from the keyboard and pick up the phone. And in doing so provides them with winning strategies that will make those calls a success. My favorite,
Always be thinking about ways that you can be of service and support. By doing so you’ll establish a natural and open relationship and others will be much more likely to help you when you’re helping them.
Granted, offering something to the networking contact isn’t the easiest thing to do, but if a contact is worth calling, it’s worth taking a day or two to really consider how you can make the conversation mutually beneficial.
If you prefer the keyboard to the keypad, fear not! Pamela’s podcast provides powerful advice on how and why email is a great follow-up tool. So dust off that list of potential networking contacts and pick up the phone. After you’ve hit ‘em with that left jab on the phone, come back with a right cross to seal the deal. Ding! Ding!
If you find this site helpful, please send a link to your career services department so your fellow alumni know about PharmBoard too! I've already written the message for you. :)
I would agree, picking up the phone is better than sending emails or surfing to a blast, mass-market web site.
However, what’s even better is a face-to-face visit. You should use the phone in order to get the face-to-face meeting. You will get decisive results in person and accomplish 5x as much (IMHO).
Agreed, Beaker. The informational interview with a networking contact is where it’s at. Thanks for the comment.
I think picking up the phone is definitely better!
I think people should get off the keybord and use other muscles to communicate with people