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How Admins Can Network
By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster Contributing Writer
There may be less than six degrees of separation between you and what you want from the workplace, whether it’s a new job or new skills. But you’ll never know if you don’t make the right connections. So get out there and start networking. These tips will help admins leverage their connections into a broader pool of people who can help them develop new skills and identify better employment prospects.
Join Up
Join a professional organization, such as the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). “As a member of this organization, you have access to more than 28,000 professionals, a job board, a forum, education, certification, monthly/annual meetings and an International Convention with more than 1,800 attendees from all over the world to network with,” says Kyle Sheldon-Chandler, a virtual assistant based in Grand Junction, Colorado, and president of the IAAP’s Colorado-Wyoming-Montana Division.
Another option is your university’s alumni organization. “Alumni social events offer an informal setting where you can meet industry veterans and begin building a personal relationship with them,” explains Valerie Elston, president of the University of Georgia’s capitol-area club and an account executive at Levick Strategic Communications. “These events put you in a relaxed setting on a regular basis with individuals you already have something in common with.”
To really leverage your involvement, volunteer for a committee or event to show your skills to folks who might have leads on gigs that require just your set of competencies.
Share Your Knowledge
One unique way to network is to create a newsletter or blog. “It doesn’t have to be extravagant; it just has to be useful and interesting to the reader,” says Mattison Grey, founder and president of Houston’s Greystone Guides, a leadership coaching and consulting firm. Include stories about what you learned in your job that month, what big task or accomplishment you and your team completed and what others can learn from it.
“A newsletter can get your name out and get you more known, both inside your current company and outside the company,” Grey says. “And you can stay in touch with people who can connect you to other interesting jobs and potential employers when and if you need it.”
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