A career management expert says just about everybody hates face-to-face networking but there are ways to make the process easier. Ellen Bartkowiak tells a group of Wisconsin professionals how to maintain confidence when meeting new people.
“Remember that you’re good at things and whatever makes you unique, people want to know about it,” says Bartkowiak, the associate director of MBA Career Management Center at UW-Madison.
Bartowiak says when meeting new people ask a lot of questions to determine if your skills fit in with their needs. However, that business connection usually doesn’t happen instantly. “It might hit them afterwards, so that’s why you send you’re ‘thank you’ note,” she says.
For those apprehensive about events, she suggests starting out small. Go to a networking function with a friend or have a goal of meeting just one new person.
AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (1:09)
Bartkowiak’s presentation was among a number of filled-up breakout sessions at the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Small Business Conference.
A session headed by Brian Lee–founder of Revelation PR, Advertising and Social Media–focused on marketing with Facebook. Lee says many companies make the mistake of automatically developing a Facebook page “just because everyone else is doing it,” rather than deciding if it fits into their business campaign.
Conference organizers reported strong results with around 2,000 attendees.
