Cache of the Day - Professional Networking

I used to not see the value of it, but I now know that contacts with professionals, in various types of industries and roles, is an invaluable way to plug into people that can add value to your career and your future opportunities.

Yesterday I participated in the Indiana State SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management) Leadership Conference. As a member of the Board for our local chapter, SCIHRA (see the link to the left), I was invited to attend and to network with members of other chapters. Not only did I pick up some great ideas from other chapters from the state (I'm the VP of Membership for SCIHRA, so I focused on my counterparts from other chapters), but I also had the opportunity to connect with others that may at some point have a need for the services I provide through Employment Plus.

In addition to quite an extensive involvement in this organization, I also attend Chamber of Commerce functions for the Bloomington area, as well as Chambers in some of the other markets that Employment Plus is in. I have had several leads from my connections to these organizations and we've actually closed quite a bit of business, simply as a result of the people who I have met.

I'd like to hear of ways that others have made successful connections through networking. What has worked for you and what kinds of results have you seen?

Here are some photos of people I otherwise wouldn't have met, and who have sent business my way:

(TOP) Me with Chris Schrader, the current President of SCIHRA, and the VP-HR for AuthorHouse. I am in fact getting "schradered" in this picture.

(NEXT) My friend and co-trainer Sharon McGuire. She assists GREATLY with the membership committee at SCIHRA, and we also are both members of CIASTD (see link to left). Sharon has her own training company "Above and Beyond Workplace Training"

(NEXT) My friend Kyle hosting the HR Games at Indiana University - she's actually the "Alex Trebeck" for the games that were held yesterday. Kyle used me a lot in her role as HR Manager for NextWave Management Group.

(BOTTOM) I met Ryan Bass when I worked at Sunrise, and we still catch up at local events, such as this recent Chamber After Hours. Ryan now heads up Marketing for Walnut Grove Spring Water.