1. Be genuine:
People can usually tell when you're being insincere, so it's important to be authentic in your interactions with others. Show a genuine interest in learning about them, their interests, and their careers.
2. Look for ways to add value:
Find ways to help the people you meet, even if it's just offering a small piece of advice or introducing them to someone in your network.
3. Follow up:
After meeting someone new, be sure to follow up with them by sending a friendly email or connecting with them on LinkedIn. This will help keep the relationship from fading away.
4. Give back:
Keep in mind that networking is a two-way street. Be open to helping others in your network, just as you would hope they would be open to helping you. By supporting others, you'll build stronger connections and a more supportive community.
It's good to remember that networking is a gradual process and you should be consistent about it.
Always keep in mind that it's not only about gaining advantage for yourself but also about helping others and creating a win-win situation.
There’s always room for improvement. You are probably already good at all of these. Take the one you’re not good at and work on it.
Rooting for you ✌️
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I started out my career as a full time volunteer. Worked 2 years for one of my mentors without pay. Today, I run a successful social enterprise and one of the largest online global platforms.
Let’s talk about practical ways to use volunteering to jumpstart your career.
1. Look for volunteer opportunities that align with your career goals.
For e.g., if you want to work in marketing, look for non-profits that need help with branding, social media and event planning.
By doing so, you‘ll:
- develop skills specific to your field of interest.
- learn about the industry and stay current with the latest trends.
- get a sense of the day-to-day work and responsibilities of a particular job or field.
- build professional connections within the industry.
- be able to showcase your skills, & stand out.
1. Tailor your application to the specific program:
Make sure to research the program and tailor your application to highlight how your experiences and goals align with the program's mission and objectives. Include specific examples to demonstrate your fit for the program.
2. Use specific examples:
Rather than just listing your experiences, use specific examples to illustrate your skills & accomplishments. For instance, if you were a teaching assistant, describe a lesson/activity that you planned & led that demonstrates your teaching abilities.
Be intentional about your personal and career development!
1. You can plan a professional development retreat
2. You can take advantage of free and low cost training and resources to advance your development. An example is the low cost Personal Branding Toolkit - bit.ly/PersonalBrandi… offered by @gbengaawomodu and @OpportunityDesk
3. You can search and apply to opportunities such as scholarships to further your studies, fellowships for your professional development, grants for your ideas etc.
4. You can connect with the right people and ask for what you need
6 Steps to winning a Fully-funded International Opportunity
I understand the difficulty in getting an all-expense paid offer to attend a conference or fellowship. It is usually difficult and extremely competitive. Nonetheless, this should not deter you from trying.
A lot of us want to travel abroad on all expense paid trips, gain international experience and build our CVs but here are Uju Silver's tips that can help prepare you and give you the opportunity you desire.
1. Identify your niche and the type of program you want to attend.
There are specialized programs and there are general ones. It's important that you identify the kinds of conferences and internships you are interested in. Don’t try to do everything. Be selective.