Networking Skills for Administrative Professionals

Top Networking Blunders for Administrative Professionals

by Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team

When it comes to finding a new position or advancing your career, it’s no secret that the people you know can provide valuable assistance. But even the most stable professional network can collapse if it isn’t continually nurtured. To ensure that your base of contacts remains strong, avoid the following mistakes:

Going it alone. In an OfficeTeam survey, workers said that not asking others for assistance is the top networking mistake. There’s no excuse for failing to ask for help; people are usually eager to lend a hand if they can.

Losing touch. Failing to maintain contact with professional acquaintances ranked as the second biggest networking mistake in the same OfficeTeam survey. Arranging periodic dinners or forwarding an e-mail to an administrative professional you know who would find it interesting are a couple of ways to reach out to members of your network.
Becoming a nuisance. While it’s important to communicate regularly with people in your network, don’t become a pest or impose too much on their goodwill. That means distributing your requests among your entire network. By doing so, you’ll receive more referrals and advice, and no one in your network will feel overburdened.
Asking for too much. Be respectful of other people’s time. Let your contacts know how long you anticipate it will take to respond to your request and don’t ask for too much at once.
Forgetting to return the favor. Your contacts will be more motivated to assist you if you help them and respond quickly to their needs.
Failing to express thanks. Politeness and sincerity go a long way when networking. Make sure to thank anyone who takes the time to listen to your request for assistance, even if he or she isn’t able to help. A thank-you note or e-mail will make a positive impression that can open doors down the road.

Building and maintaining a network is a challenging endeavor, but it also can be a fruitful and rewarding experience for any administrative professional.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Domeyer is executive director of OfficeTeam, the nation’s leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled administrative and office support professionals. OfficeTeam has more than 300 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.