Tanya Maldonado

Contact information for Tanya Maldonado

Networking and Social Media

Pie chart

Work it Daily – Webinar – How to Network in Times of Crisis (Covid) But still applicable. Great advice from J.T. O’Donnell – Owner of – Work it Daily

No. 1 Rookie Networking Mistake

One of the most common mistakes people make when networking online is approaching it solely as a means to promote themselves or their products/services, rather than focusing on building genuine relationships and connections. Here’s why this approach can be detrimental:

  1. Neglecting the “social” aspect: Networking is about establishing mutually beneficial relationships. When people solely focus on self-promotion, they overlook the importance of engaging with others, showing genuine interest in their work, and building rapport. This can lead to shallow connections that provide little value in the long run.
  2. Ignoring the power of reciprocity: Networking is a two-way street. It’s not just about what you can gain, but also what you can offer. By solely concentrating on self-promotion, you miss opportunities to help others, share valuable insights, or contribute to discussions. Building a reputation as someone who adds value can open doors to more meaningful connections and collaborations.
  3. Lack of personalization: Mass messaging or sending generic connection requests without personalizing them can come across as impersonal and insincere. It’s essential to take the time to understand the person you’re reaching out to and tailor your approach accordingly. Show genuine interest in their work, mention specific points of connection, and explain why you believe connecting with them would be mutually beneficial.
  4. Failure to follow up and maintain relationships: Networking is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. It’s not enough to make an initial connection; you need to nurture and maintain the relationship over time. Following up with people, engaging in meaningful conversations, and providing support when needed will help strengthen your network and keep the connections alive.

To avoid these mistakes, approach online networking with a mindset of building authentic relationships, adding value to others, and being genuinely interested in their work. By doing so, you’ll increase your chances of forging meaningful connections and reaping the benefits of a strong professional network.

Networking Tips

The key to managing a useful and healthy network is to be a good professional friend and keep in touch. This means some real contact at least every 6 months if you expect a former colleague or professional friend to remember you. People remember others if they are helpful, not takers but givers.  Here are 10 “gifts”

  1. Host a virtual Meet up- Industry organization
  2. Write an article featuring others in your network or industry
  3. post video tips, questions and answers -to create a dialog
  4. Comment in detail on posts
  5. Build and distribute an industry specific contact list
  6. Put together an alumni group
  7. Promote companies on your bucket list
  8. Use humor to lighten the heaviness around you and put in your own feeds
  9. Create a Daily Trivia Challenge per (network or Industry)
  10. Create a resources document

Be of use to people you are starting a network with, share materials from a workshop, class, book you read, website you checked out, or a social media blog. This attitude creates a vibrant dynamic that will benefit everyone and gives you an item for discussion or something to follow up on in future connections.

On the gratitude front and keeping in touch:

Strategy from Pam, founder of Career Makers: If Jackie introduces me to Rose, I will thank her for that introduction. If Rose introduces me to Cheri then I will thank Rose and Jackie. I will let Jackie know that her connecting me to Rose has led to my meeting Cheri. Continually show your gratitude for the help and advice you receive.

Try networking for fun and pleasure via  www.meetup.com

Networking Tips and Articles

Need to start a network? Here are some ready-made opportunities

  1. Your own family and friends, and faith or social groups (obvious no?)
  2. Professional networking events and employer open houses or tours
  3. Job fairs or trade shows
  4. Professional associations
  5. Chamber of Commerce Events
  6. Diversity Groups e.g., Nat’l Association of Professional Women, SayHey
  7. Job clubs – Cleon Cox Runs Job Finders www.jobfinderssupport.com
  8. College alumni events or clubs (PantherHub)
  9. Continued education and pleasure classes
Face-to-Face

Have a business card to hand out at a networking event, and any event can be networking! Print the career/job title or skill sets you are looking for on the card or write by hand.

Online Resource for Inexpensive Business Cards for Networking
Networking Groups

LinkedIn

Great tip from Jeremy Schifeling  Founder, The Job Insiders
Author of the #1 ChatGPT for Careers Best-Seller on Amazon

Advance LinkedIn search –

1. Go to LinkedIn and log in. Click the Search bar at the top.
2. Type “Marketing Director Slack” (or whatever the company and title is) and hit enter.
3. To filter your results:
– On the search results page, click “People”.
– Then use the filters at the top. Company → Current company → Slack. Title → Marketing Director
Now you’ll see a list of people who match that description (ex: Marketing Directors currently at Slack).

Other Platforms:

Article on researching employers via social media from Alison Doyle About.com

Career Support and Job Blogs