Get Even More Visitors To Your Blog, Upgrade To A Business Listing >>

5 tips for networking in a small city

5 Tips For Networking In A Small City

In smaller communities where it can feel like everybody knows everybody, it probably seems like Networking should come easily.

But in fact, networking in a small city can be very different different from doing so in a place like Toronto or Vancouver, where career fairs, networking events, and career and recruitment specialists seem to abound.

Building your professional network in a less dense locale might require a slightly different approach.

Follow these tips for networking in a small city.

Become a joiner

Fawcett found that joining the Brandon Chamber of Commerce was a great way to both get involved in the Community and meet other entrepreneurs and specialists across all industries and walks of life.

“The reality is we wish we had gotten involved earlier, but you’re so busy trying to get your business going that you don’t,” says Fawcett.

“It just gives you an opportunity. It’s an opening. You’re now connected in some tangible way rather than just being in business together. It gets you in some doors and allows you the freedom to get a hold of people.”

The benefits of getting involved aren’t even limited to professional organizations. Joining any community organization – or even a local recreational sports team or book club – could still help you make valuable introductions.

“In small towns it’s so important to network and it’s going to look different than in your big cities,” says Joanne Loberg, career consultant and executive coach at JL Careers Inc.

“It’s networking at your sports games. If you’re in a faith community, it’s networking at church. It’s finding ways of connecting with people.”

Try to learn about people, not positions

When Susan Spiropoulos started building her company, Olivier’s Bistro Catering & Restaurant Supplies, she found that the best way to forge lasting business connections was to make a real attempt to get to know people, rather than talk with the sole purpose of furthering each other’s professions.

In other words? Be real.

“People get to know you on a different playing field when you are at a function – you’re not trying to sell them something or get them to book a catering, you genuinely get to know them and hear about their jobs, family, trials and tribulations,” says Spiropoulos.

“In essence, you listen to the other person. Most people want the microphone, but when you listen, you’re garnering a lot of information.”

Protect your rep

Clichés about small-town gossip aside, word can travel fast in a cozier community.

If you’re an entrepreneur, that means going the extra mile to ensure your clients are receiving the sort of top-notch service that will have them scurrying to tell their friends.

“We worked off word of mouth for most of our career,” says Fawcett. “We work hard to maintain that good reputation all over the province.”

And if you’re working for someone else, it means being extra cautious about never burning a single bridge and maintaining good relationships – even on your way out of a company.

Seek out mentoring opportunities…

Searching out wisdom from people at the top of their professional game is good advice no matter where you live.

But those enviable professionals might be just a little bit more accessible outside of a major metropolis – so take advantage.

“The one thing about a place like Brandon is you do know most people, or have sort of tie, so doors are open,” says Fawcett.

“You just have to go and knock on doors and talk to people. The business community is exceptionally good to one another. If there’s people who have been in business a long time, their doors are always open.”

…and pay it forward

Your professional experience is probably valuable to someone in the community, so you should welcome the opportunity to share that wealth

“The open door has to move both ways,” says Fawcett. “Trust relationships are the most important thing you can have, and things will move really fast if you generate those.”

See also:

5 reasons why moving to a smaller city can be great for your career

Thinking of relocating? These Canadian cities are hiring

_______

– Follow Workopolis on Twitter

– Sign up for the Workopolis Weekly newsletter

– Listen to Safe for Work, the Workopolis podcas

The post 5 tips for networking in a small city appeared first on Workopolis.



This post first appeared on Workopolis, please read the originial post: here

Share the post

5 tips for networking in a small city

×

Subscribe to Workopolis

Get updates delivered right to your inbox!

Thank you for your subscription

×