holiday networking

Best Of Holiday Networking Blog Posts

Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

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Each year someone asks, “Are people hiring over the holidays?” Or makes a statement, “No one is hiring over the holidays, why bother?”

Yes, people are getting hired over the holidays and boosting their careers. Just last week one of my clients landed an offer AND through our coaching work together, she negotiated an even better salary and compensation package. Another client is on her second and third interviews and awaiting offers. That’s just in the past week.

Each year, I write a blog post on the topic with real people sharing stories of how they were hired and what they did to land the gig. Here are some of the best. Click on the links, get ideas, and take action. Enjoy!

Holiday Networking and Your Brand 

Holiday Networking: Pass the Nuts and Your Resume Please

Good News: Hired Over the Holidays!

Yes Virginia, Companies are Hiring Over the Holidays

Feel your holidays are too hectic to network? Here are some 5-minute tips you can do over the holidays and beyond to make your network thrive:

Easy 5-Minute Tips to Make Your Network Thrive

Have you got a holiday networking story to share? Please do! And get your chance to win my book, “Rock Your Network®,” with loads of tips, tricks, and strategies to keep your networking momentum going over the holidays and beyond. Includes a social media bio template – simply fill in the blanks and enter your new bio into LinkedIn and other social media. Deadline: Dec. 31, 2014.

© 2013 – 2014 Wendy Terwelp | All rights reserved. (Post was updated on 12/1/14)

Don’t be a Networking Turkey

Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

It’s Thanksgiving week and soon New Year’s Eve with more parties in between – friends, family, and office parties. A great time to network. And a time to avoid being a Networking Turkey. Let’s talk about the “Don’ts,” what NOT to do during holiday gatherings that will help you maintain your rock star status and avoid becoming a Networking Turkey.

The List:

  • Don’t drink too much. I know it’s the holidays. When at a work-related function, keep drinks to a minimum. No need for the walk of shame later.
  • Don’t dress or act provocatively – especially at work parties. People have long memories and smartphones with cameras.
  • Don’t ask for a job during holiday gatherings. It’s not the right time or place.
  • Don’t tag pics of your friends drinking or doing other embarrassing things during holiday parties on Facebook, Twitter or other social networks.
  • Don’t let your friends post those types of pics of you either!

Digital dirt lives forever online. You’ll need to untag crazy photos and ask friends to remove them (which they may or may not do) or bury the dirt with other on-brand content (such as blog posts). Despite taking these types of actions, digital dirt can still get found and be bad for your career. Better to be proactive and not have it happen in the first place.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Holiday Networking and Your Brand

Wendy Terwelp 1 Comment

The holidays are fast approaching and that means parties — those of your friends, family, office colleagues, professional associations, and more. A great time to network.

Here are some things you can do during holiday gatherings that improve your brand and build your network:

  •  Attend holiday gatherings. I know, you’ve been invited to so many and it can get a bit overwhelming. I encourage you to participate and take an active role.
  • Be professional. You never know who will be at the event. Work events included. The spouse or significant other of a coworker could be a key connection for you later on. Many of my clients have gotten hired over the holidays.
  •  Take online networks offline. It’s the holidays, just because business may have slowed down, networking doesn’t have to. Good chance your online network has time for a coffee or lunch.
  • Take time to call a friend and other connections in your network. If your friend doesn’t have time for lunch, make time for a brief call. With the recent fires and other events, it’s important to stay in touch and strengthen your ties. These events affect people globally, not just locally.
  • Develop and practice your networking sound bite before heading to a party or other holiday event.
  • LISTEN. Listen to the conversations and identify areas where you can help. You’ve got to fuel your network to fire it up!™
  • Follow up with whatever you promised.
  • Connect via the appropriate social network(s). LinkedIn is terrific in that it provides regular updates right to your inbox, so you can quickly follow up with a congratulations note or related email.

Networking is all about building and maintaining relationships, not about making the instant sale or begging for a job. Build the relationship first. It will lead to the rest. Networking this way will have a positive effect on your brand and propel your career.

Have you got a holiday networking story to share? Share in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you!

© updated 2018 | Wendy Terwelp

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Five Quick Tips to Network Over the Holidays

Wendy Terwelp Leave a comment

Share your holiday networking story and get a chance to win my book! That’s right – send in your holiday networking story to me directly: consultant@knocks.com or post it here on this blog and get a chance to WIN!

Here are Five Quick Tips to help you network like a rock star – and get your story in before Dec. 25, 2010.

1. Listen. Listen for opportunities, problems, or situations in a friend’s conversation. It could be a golden opportunity for you.

2. Ask. Ask others how you may help them. You’ve got to fuel your network to fire it up!™

3. Have your sound bite ready! Focus, Share, Tell.

4. Reconnect. Dig out your holiday mailing list. Who haven’t you talked to in a while? Pick up the phone – and take five to reconnect.

5. Attend. Yes, holiday gatherings can be really crazy. Just do it.

And if you think you’ve got it bad, I just talked with someone who shared the following Thanksgiving story:

“How was my Thanksgiving? Well, the dog drank out of the toilet, then tried to eat all the deserts. Kids were running everywhere – and there were only two of them. Not to mention everyone talking really, really loud and all at the same time. I can’t believe we drove 4-and-a-half hours for that.”

“So,” I said, “Ready for Christmas?”

“Yes,” she said, “We’re doing it all over again.”

Ah, the holidays. Can’t control it, so you might as well make the most of it – and share your story!

The deadline is Dec. 25, 2010. The earlier you send in your stories, the better ’cause I’m feeling generous. We’ll be doing more than one drawing.

And, for those of you who simply can’t wait for a drawing, get my book, Rock Your Network® for Job Seekers, by clicking on the book cover.

Now, here’s the really cool thing, buy one, get one FREE! And, only ONE shipping rate. Woo hoo! (Offer ends 12/31/10.) Get one, give one. Go on!

To get the deal, enter “HO HO HO 2010” in the special message section when you place order. (We use PayPal.)

I look forward to hearing all of your cool holiday networking stories. Thanks in advance for sharing!

PS: Here are links to two holiday networking stories – to give you some ideas:

“Holiday Networking: Pass the Nuts and Your Resume Please” and “Good News: Hired Over the Holidays.”

© 2010 | Wendy Terwelp | All rights reserved.