Page 5 - Networking Receptions - Networking for Law Students Series_1 (1)

05

Networking Generally

What is Networking & Do I have to do it?

Yes, you should network! Networking is a technique - one that must be
acquired, honed, and perfected to one’s own personal style. The goals of
networking include getting advice on career aspirations, getting a mentor, or
getting a referral for a job or other opportunity without directly soliciting it.

Networking is not the collection of others’ business cards or giving your
own out indiscriminately without first establishing a connection. It’s about the
relationships you cultivate with the people whose names are on those business
cards. A ‘lead’ is not one person simply writing down a name and number of a
third party for someone else to contact. It is instead a proactive approach based
upon a foundation of trust that one takes on behalf of another to ultimately
accomplish that other person’s goal. Networking is also not about paying back a
favor but instead involves the notion of ‘paying it forward’. If someone is of help
to you, you in turn should be helpful to someone else in the future. The notion to
keep in mind about leads is this: you don’t “pay” for leads, you “repay”.

Keep in mind your reputation- your brand- precedes you and is an
essential factor in networking. Think of any company. A company is nothing
without some form of advertising and promotion. Similarly, without advertising
and promoting yourself through networking, no one will know about you - no
matter how good you may be.

There are different forms of networking- the subject of this pamphlet is:
networking receptions.

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