Simple Tips For Networking Into Your Dream Job – The Sloane Berrent Interview
on Nov 18, 2008 - 5:00 AM PSTThe full program
This is an audio program. Listen and/or download it here:
A few lessons from this program
Sloane Berrent has a job most people would kill for. She helps design her company’s future. She throws the hot parties. And she even gets to do good by helping her company support causes.
You don’t get jobs like this by reading the help wanted section. Sloane became Director of Business Development at Causecast.org by networking. I asked her to teach us how she did it. Here are a few of her tips.
Try new events – If you want to meet new people, you have to try doing new things. She’s not someone that most people would consider a “geek” but she tried tech events and ended up meeting her future boss at one.
Set an intention – On her way to an event, instead of listening to the radio or talking on the phone, she spends some quiet time setting an intention for the event. It helps her become more aware of opportunities at the event.
Keep a free hand – Events aren’t about the food & drink. If you have food in one hand and a drink in the other, you won’t be able to shake hands with new people.
Find focal points – I love this idea. Sloane told me that when she gets to an event, she looks for focal points like the bar. She then slowly makes her way from one point to the other. That helps her circulate throughout the event and keeps her from standing in one place or being in one conversation for too long.
Get personal – You build connections with people by finding commonality, not by pushing a business agenda. (Tim Ferriss said the same thing in this interview.) So even at business events, Sloane talks about her personal interests.
Invite people – An easy way to stay in touch with people is to invite them to events. Sloane told me that when she first met Ryan, she invited him to a Heal the Bay event. He couldn’t make it to the event, but he made a her a job offer soon after the invitation.
More – This is only a partial list of what we talked about. Listen to the interview for more.
Do you have any networking tips? Tell me in the comments or by email.
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November 19th, 2008 at 12:44 am
I like the focal point tip and the set-an-intention tip. Sometimes I have an objective before an event, but it’s usually pretty vague. I like the idea of a clear intention.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:27 am
I really appreciate Sloane’s point that finding your “dream job” is by no means easy and that it may take a long time. I’ve been there and know how frustrating it can be, but I agree that the best way to get there is to keep a positive attitude, always be learning, and put yourself out there.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Olivia: That’s the one I need to work on: remembering why I’m going.
Kate: Yeah, being in an uncertain place drives me nuts and challenges my positive outlook.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Good points about networking you typically don’t think about. What I learned from this podcast is networking requires preparation, setting goals and having a purpose attending the event. As being approachable may sound quite obvious, I think I need to work on that, I’ve been to many networking events and thinking back, I was probably not the most approachable dude. I have an event I will be attending next week, this time I am going to have the radio off on the way there and set clear goals. Lets see how I can improve.
November 27th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Deep – I’d love to hear how the event goes! I know it’s the smallest thing, but isn’t it amazing when you think about something before you do it or it happens – how much more control you can have in a situation? I hope the tips from this interview help in all future networking for you.
December 8th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I’d just like to add my own insight: elevation. Most people stay glued to the floor; sure, they move from one focal point to another. But next time get some elevation – I usually enjoy finding a table or two to walk on, even a bar or service counter. Now, once you’re up there have some fun, start a conversation and introduce yourself.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:03 am
[...] Simple tips for networking into your dream job from Sloane Berrent. [...]