Networking

When I became a notary, I didn't do it because of the networking opportunities it afforded. Instead, I did it because my boss was complaining that every time our group filed for a patent, it took forever to get the applications and supplements notarized. So one day I just up and volunteered. It was cheap (the license is a tax deduction) and they paid for the time I took to go to the courthouse and get sworn in.

I have now done about 50 notarizations (that's documents, not witnessed signatures, which is probably over 100 by now) since January. And I meet a lot of people doing this, mainly bigwigs. They're all thrilled and happy that I'm there to help them. There's a sign on my door. I notarize nonwork stuff, too, like applications for passport renewals. I do this all for free, too, even though I could reasonably charge about $5 for anything outside of work. I do that because I can tell it helps with networking. They remember, hey, that gal gave me a valuable, unique service, for free.

A colleague of mine has a different sort of trick. She used to be a pastry chef and still has friends in the industry. She brings the professional-style cakes to our company parties, including one last week for a guy who was leaving. Everyone in the building was there, and by the end of the party, everyone knew M___'s name.

Jespah, I hope more people join in this thread, besides just lil' ol' me -- coz' I've always wanted to know more about how this networking thing works.

A few months ago, when I was sending out resumes, looking for another job, I contacted an employment agency. The lady I dealt with was very nice and helpful (even tho I actually wound up getting my job thru my own efforts).

She noticed I had experience doing transcription and asked if I had a transcription machine of my own. She said she had a some clients (mostly property companies) that need someone to do transcription for them sometimes.

Well, I don't have a transcription machine, but I think I can pick one up cheap off ebay. I told her if I get one soon, I'd give her a call back.

I've been thinking about doing that. It's something I could do at home in the evenings or on the weekends, and earn a little extra money.

And, I was thinking -- now that I work in the pharmaceutical industry (as a technical writer) I'm getting more and more familiar with the names of drugs, and chemicals. Maybe I can parlay this experience into doing some transcription work for doctors. I've heard you can make some nice money doing that.

So, I guess that would sorta be networking, wouldn't it?

Sure!

I had a whole run of jobs via networking. If I had stayed in one place, it probably could have gone on indefinitely. Still worked inter-state, but not on time. (In the last dozen years I've lived in WI, CA, IL, and OH [in order] -- I just found out that a person from WI highly recommended me for a job in IL after I'd already moved to OH. Drat.)

My basic modus operandi(um?) is treat everyone as someone who potentially has a killer lead -- usually they don't, but sometimes they do. And volunteer as much as you can stand -- I got burnt out after my last run and am consciously not doing it now, but it's an absolutely fantastic way to network.

<learning>

I almost live for networking

Definitely!

My company is in the voice recognition software biz and we use transcription (we have a full-time person, the ex-pastry chef I mentioned, above). Her predecessor did MT for about three years for us and parlayed it into a QA job elsewhere. She was just the known person, if you know what I mean.

RP got his last job through networking; his old company was leaving the area, we wanted to stay (of course), and a friend of his said, hey, my place might be hiring. Now RP does the same. It's a very incestuous industry, as is mine. People just know each other, and help one another out.

But one thing that definitely helps is establishing a beachhead, e. g. staying in one place or more or less in one place, so I've noticed. I've moved a few times and that made it tough to get reestablished.

My current job is through a head hunter, not through networking, but I now have my foot in the door and am working hard to sell myself not only as a subject matter expert (which would be a narrow niche) but also as something of a utility infielder. So I suggest a bunch of things, like let's put together this, here, let me organize that, and I think those are also going to be higher profile tasks.

Hey, it can't hurt.

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

your glove work is improving rapidly, but you still need practice on turning the double-play...

Region, stop that, you bad boy!! (slapping Region's hand with my paw)



How so, husker? Give us some examples, please.

i was talkin' clean, wholesome stuff there, Stray...
what'd u have in mind??