Thursday, July 23, 2009
Suit coat, or sport jacket? Open, or closed toed shoes? Clean shaven, or stick with the 5 o'clock shadow? Successful networking can literally come down to details like these. According to an article written by Michelle Sterling, founder of Global Image Group, the first three seconds of meeting someone is vital to the rest of the relationship.
When you attend a career fair, cocktail party or any event you have an opportunity to meet someone, you want to stand out. You need to make an impression in the first three seconds. Now, that doesn't mean be the only guy to wear jeans, when everyone else has on a suit. Proper business clothes are important. Be confident, not cocky. A firm handshake is key. And eye contact is absolutely necessary.
To successfully network, you need to pass the first three seconds of evaluation when you meet someone.
When you make the best possible first impression, you have your audience in the palm of your hand. When you make a poor first impression, you lose your audience's attention, no matter how hard you scramble to recover it.
Here's another great tip. When you start a conversation and it dies after 2 minutes, remember that. When you start a different conversation, and it sparks a 10 minute engagment, remember it. Continue to use what works best for you!
For more information on networking, check out the rest of the article here, or another recent blog post about networking here.
Good luck!
Posted by Brad Karsh on July 23, 2009 at 10:00 AM
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