4 ways to hold peoples attention at networking events

4 ways to hold peoples attention at networking events4 ways to hold peoples attention at networking eventsNetworking events - as social as a dinner party or as buttoned-up as an industry conference - are the ultimate opportunitiesto put the best version of yourself out there in an effort to form meaningful connections with other people.Heres how to keep people inside or outside of your industry interested in what you have to say when you meet for the very first time.Really listen to the other personIts easy to tell when someone isnt focused on getting to know you or your story - their eyes dart, and it often feels like theyre looking right through you.Dont be that person.Instead, try empathetic listening, writes Christina DesMarais in an Inc. articlethat includes networking advice for introverts, extroverts, and the socially awkward. She describes it as trying to see things from the perspective of whom youre talking to with the intention of gaining information about them.She also features advice from Jacqueline Whitmore, etiquette expert and author of Poised for Success Mastering the Four Qualities That Distinguish Outstanding Professionals.When you ask the person a question, listenwith the intent to understand and also to establish a connection with that person, because people tend to remember people they have a connection with.Dont be a card dealer . . .In other words, dont move too quickly. Moving from person to person in a hurry probably wont help you earn their respect or keep their attention.Ivan Misner identifies types of desperate networkers in an Entrepreneur article. The Card Dealer is among them.After saying that this type is likely the most common form of desperation hes encountered, he mentions that this networker quickly gives out business cards like hes at a poker table and does elend really connect with people unless he thinks theres something in it for him. Misner continuesTo the Card Dealer, networking is mostly a numbers game.The more peop le he can pass his cards to,the better hes doing (or so he thinks). Card Dealers tend to have a network that is a mile wide but an inch deep because they dont spend time building relationships. It never works in the long run and they just look inexperienced, frazzledand yes - desperate.. . . but do hold the cards yourselfInaHarvard Business Review article, Dorie Clark, who says shes hosted more than two dozen dinner parties to expand her network and meet interesting people, writes that you should seek to become the center of the network.She cites the example of Jon Levy, who began throwing Influencers dinner gatherings at his apartment in New York City with luminaries in different fields, and offers a strategy.Clark says to start by inviting the most interesting professionals you know and request that they suggest the most interesting connections they have.Over time you can build a substantial network, she writes. At a certain point youll gain enough momentum that professionals who have heard about the dinners will even reach out to ask for an invitation.Be a resource for othersProviding someone else with what they need is a good way to prove the value of your new connection.A Monster article mentions that you should respond to others challenges. Theres no better way to establish a business networking relationship than by helping them with a pressing issue, the articles states.If someone states a challenge that theyre facing, respond- no later than the next morning- with something of value that addresses their issue, says John Felkins, president of Accelerant Consulting Group, an organizational development consultancy in Bartlett, Tennessee.And who knows? Although you shouldnt purely give help to get it back, the person you assist may be able to vouch for you in the future or support your career in other ways.Being good at networking starts with recognizing that youre having a conversation with another human being who may be able to teach you something new if you really engage with them.

Open season for the CIA!

Open season for the CIAOpen season for the CIASo, all you aspiring secret agents with an interest in international affairs This is your chance. Visit the CIA site for further details.Posted by Todd Obolsky, Vault News & Commentary

How 3 Real Jobscan Users Landed Their Dream Jobs

How 3 Real Jobscan Users Landed Their Dream Jobs How 3 Real Jobscan Users Landed Their Dream Jobs Its like a search engine for writing resumes. ThistoolishowI gotmyjob.Jobscan User 3I run Jobscans Live Chat desk, and after three years at Jobscan, Ive heard a lot of job search stories directly from the people who use our service. My favorite stories? Success stories Im inspired all the time by users who send me a message to let me know theyve found a job. In the interest of passing on some of that inspiration to other job seekers, I spoke with three Jobscan users who found jobs using our tool. I wanted to know what they learned from using Jobscan, how long it took for them to find a job, and what some of their major challenges were throughout their job search. I hope what youll notice most about each of these job seekers experiences is how vastly different they are from one another. No job search is the same, but that doesnt mean each one cant lead to success.Jobscan User 1 Insurance SpecialistCurrent IndustryInsuranceBefore I started using Jobscan, I never got a call back on resumes I sent out. Once I started using Jobscan, I received a call-back about half of the time.Length of job search 10 months. Biggest challenges 1. Getting through to the hiring manager.2. Nothavingastrongenoughnetwork.This business insurance is a lot about who you know. I just moved to a new area where I dont know anyone.How did Jobscan help in your job searchIt taught me how critically important it is to give the robots what they are looking for. I didnt realize so little effort was put into reviewing resumes to select the most qualified applicants.If you dont use the exact word they are looking for, your resume will never be seen by human eyesAny tips for current job seekers? Create your base resume, which is what you would be proud to hand to a human. For each sttte you apply for, start over with that base resumedont modify the resume from another position. If you keep evolving the re sume (modifying the most recent copy each time) you eventually end up with a mess that is nothing but keywords but no longer represents what makes you special.Jobscan User 2 Operations ManagerCurrent Industry TechnologyJobscan allowed me to quantify whether I was using the right language and enough of it in my resume, which was very helpful.Length of job search 6 months.Biggest challenges1. Molding past work experience to fit the skills and needs of the new organization.Doing this required me to understand the skills and values the new organizations consider important through the language they use and how they talk about their work.2. Countering stereotypes about previous industry. Unfortunately, there are stereotypes that people who work in federal government somehow cannot move fast, or work under pressure or tight deadlines. Some people I spoke to were more open-minded than others about adjusting their perceptions, and that is to be expected.How did Jobscan help in your job searc h?I learned about ATS and how important it is to understand these systems as a job-seeker, especially if youre seeking to be a competitive candidate to the largest and most competitive companies.Any tips for current job seekers?Understand the language of the organization(s) you want to join and use that language in your resume, LinkedIn profile, and when networking. This will make you seem like an insider who has already done their research, so people can already visualize you working for that organization.Jobscan User 3 IT Manager Current Industry Information TechnologyThe hiring manager at my current job says my resume prior to using Jobscan would never have gotten me hiredLength of job search 3 months.Biggest challenges1. Industry change (from business management to IT)2. Applying for jobs and never getting an interview 3. Not being able to rely on a professional network.People could count on their network in the past to help connect them to new jobs, but today, people move aroun d so much more, so it has become a lot harder to rely on those connections.HowdidJobscanhelpinyourjobsearch?IdidntknowanythingaboutATS,butafriendrecommendedJobscanandguidedmethroughitthetoolidentifiedhugegapsinmyresumeandexplainedwhatwasmissing. Its like a search engine for writing resumes. ThistoolishowI gotmyjob.Any tips for current job seekers?Learn about the current job search world and utilize all the tools at your disposal if you want to be successful. You cant rely only on your professional network anymore, so its time to explore new methods.Try out Jobscan without leaving this article by pasting your resume and a job description below. Head to the Jobscan homepage to upload your resume for additional formatting checks.