Make a great first impression with people you do not know
Anytime you consider changing careers or starting an active job search, it helps make a good first impression.
Q: I am thinking about changing my career focus and want to start reaching out to my network and meeting new people. When I switched careers in the past, I landed a new job by talking with people. However, it took more time than I expected. Do you have any shortcuts or suggestions for connecting with people more meaningfully?
A: Anytime you consider changing careers or starting an active job search, it helps make a good first impression. Changing how you connect with people is often the key to talking with a hiring decision-maker and moving you closer to new opportunities.
Even though people have heard about the power of networking, most overlook their style of connecting with others and take for granted that people know how to network. Taking a shortcut in the process might be a desire, but you are dealing with unpredictable people and different levels of communication skills.
Moving your career in a different direction can be exciting and rewarding. However, it is easy to overlook the self-awareness aspects that lead to making a memorable impression when your focus is on gathering the information you need for changing your career.
The surprising leads you receive from meeting people can happen when you least expect them. When talking with people, you may be unaware of who is in their circle of connections. Here are some suggestions that will improve your ability to make a solid first impression with people and hopefully build lasting relationships.
One of the areas that prevent a good impression involves your communication skills. Showing enthusiasm for reaching your career goals is essential, yet paying attention to the conversation is equally important. For example, if you do most of the talking, the other person might not feel as though you were interested in them.
Avoid taking for granted that smiling and nodding from the other person equals a good conversation. It could only indicate they are polite and are listening. Instead, think about the types of questions and how you could make people feel good about talking with you.
Another way to make a strong impression is by often using the person’s name. People feel special when you remember their names. Dale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, is timeless wisdom toward building relationships.
When meeting people in person or through virtual connections, be aware of how you respond to them. If you are genuinely interested in building rapport, it will show your facial expressions and replies.
Thousands of networking stories have changed people’s career direction, and most will tell you some of their encounters were planned while others were a complete surprise. However, they all share their ability to capture the moment and make the connection work for them by making the other person feel good.
Kimberly Thompson, M.Ed., is a national board-certified counselor and career coach. Send questions to kim@careerrescue.com or visit her blog at chron.com/jobs.