Now that the summer is underway, don't stop your relationship building. It is a continual process so you need to remain active. During the summer, there are not as many networking events and people are more relaxed. Use this to your advantage. Below are some networking tips to keep you proactive during the summer.
Tip 1 - Attend More Social Events - Most organizations don't have formal networking events during the summer. However, many have social events. Attend these events because you will get to interact with people in a different environment. Also, some of your business colleagues may hold their own social events. It is a good idea to check these out as well.
Tip 2 - Organize Your Own Social - A great way to build relationships is to host your own event. So, use the summer to test this out by holding your own social event for your network. You need to get in front of people on a regular basis so this is a great way to do this. If your first one goes well, then try another. Who knows? This may turn into a regular event for you, which is great for your personal brand.
Tip 3 - Leverage Summer Hours - If you are fortunate to have summer hours at your employee, then take advantage of this extra time to meet with people so you can build your relationships. Also, use some of this time to attend functions that you may not have been able to attend in the past. Don't let this time go to waste.
Tips 4 - Attend Sporting Events - During the summer, sports are a very popular activity for people. Whether attending a baseball game or golfing, make sure that you participate. These are all activities that you can do with people to build your relationships. If you are a golfer and have summer hours, take advantage of this time to golf with some people that you would like to get to know better.
Tip 5 - Continue to Look for a Job - Just like during the holidays, the summer can be a more relaxing time for employers and business professionals. However, don't let this stop you from looking for a new job. In fact, if work is a little more relaxed and slower with people on vacation, then this is a great time to build the critical relationships that you need during this process. Just don't ever stop.
Do you have other summer networking tips to share?
Summer free's up your time, so you can focus on networking and less on your present job.
Posted by: Dan Schawbel | July 08, 2007 at 01:04 PM
Absolutely Dan. The summer is a great time to practice networking techniques and build relationships.
Posted by: Jason Jacobsohn | July 08, 2007 at 04:41 PM