As an experienced employee, you bring a major asset to the table: your network. (You might even remember when it was called your Rolodex!) Over the decades, you have collected friends, colleagues and loose connections who know and trust you, people you can help and who can help you when asked.
Still, old-hand networkers need to keep their skills and their ties current. So Karen Wickre’s recent book, Taking the Work Out of Networking, is really useful. Wickre comes with undeniable street cred. An early Google employee who then moved on to Twitter (all this in her 50s and 60s), she has had a successful career in tech as a communications professional.
Chances are you already know the basics of networking and have done it for years. But the playing field has changed a bit. Maybe you’re now in the startup environment, so you’re networking with a new crowd. Or maybe you’re finding it tougher to land a new job, and you need to do an end-run around ageism. Or maybe you just need to add a new layer to your networking, such as with social media and crafting your personal brand.
I happen to be an introvert, so the fact that Wickre’s book tagline–An Introvert’s Guide to Making Connections That Count–specifically applies to me and my ilk, is especially comforting. Even I can do this! And if I can, so can you!
Wickre sheds light on several networking issues currently in flux that may be perplexing even to veterans:
Business cards – Useful or passé?
Wickre’s answer is both. A cleverly designed paper business card can be useful if you design it to articulate your brand. She, for example, includes a quote on the back of her own business card that showcases her values. But it can also be fine to skip business cards altogether. Fewer conversations happen face-to-face, and at a conference, you can send contact info via the conference app or ask to connect on LinkedIn.
Social media presence – Folly or necessity?
Necessity. Your use of social media doesn’t need to be flawless, but if you’re in the market for a job, recruiters may raise an eyebrow if you can’t be found online. Wickre cites a 2017 CareerBuilder study that shows recruiters are 57 percent less likely to interview a candidate they can’t find online. The books offers guidance on how to be sure your social media presence portrays you in a light that is authentic but positive. And the case is made for giving social media attention, even if not in a job search.
Email – Dead or killer app?
Definitely, killer app. Email remains the private door to your connections. A particularly valuable part of the book, Wickre gives examples of how to word emails gracefully when making introductions, asking for a favor, and sending an
Special note for the 50+ crowd
In the “You’ve Got This” chapter, under the endearing “If you’re ‘old’ like me” heading (Wickre joined Google at 51 and Twitter at 60), you’ll find some very legit advice. She candidly notes that working in a “young” tech company in a non-tech role was a little tough on the ego because her role wasn’t highly valued. But her advice to peers is very useful. For example, if you want to jump to a new industry, join a specialist consulting agency or non-marquee company, where you can learn the skills. Lean on your weak ties. And position yourself as a modern elder (à la Chip Conley’s new book), mentoring younger colleagues while also learning from them.
Networking may have an unearned bad rap. It turns out that if you remove the nasty label and just focus on helping others, kindling friendships and remaining loosely connected, networking