Members enjoy countless opportunities to connect with key industry leaders in all sectors, locally and nationally.

CWC's Tope Tips for Networking

Networking is an essential career skill. But as is often said, too many people come at it with too much "net" and not enough "working". Learning to do if effectively is on of the best things you can do for your career.

1.	Every time you attend an event, introduce yourself to someone you don't know
2.	Think about what your 'elevator pitch' is going to be. How will you introduce yourself and your position and/or interests.
3.	Always have your business cards with you and always ask others for their business card. Try to write details about the conversation on the card right away.
4.	Listen. The more you let others talk about themselves, the smarter they'll think you are... And the more you'll learn.
5.	Never stay in a conversation with one person or group for far too long... and don't feel offended when someone else moves on.
6.	If possible, find out the names of some of the people who are going to be at the event (or at your table). Do a bit of research on them first so that you can find common areas of interest or questions you'd like to ask.
7.	Networking is two-way; find ways to help someone else and build relationships between people you think would benefit from each other, not just those you find useful.
8.	Don't let fear of making as mistake stop you from networking - even the great networkers have embarrassing moments.
9.	Practice. Try to go to a few events where you don't know anyone but that are relevant to your interests and goals. Put yourself out there.
10.	If you don't know anyone, look for someone else who seems to be standing alone and start there.
11.	Get involved in professional organizations outside of the company, like Canadian Women in Communications.
12.	Follow up. LinkedIn, email, phone call, whatever is most appropriate based on the conversation you've had. When you send the invitation to connect on LinkedIn, take the opportunity to make your request personal. Refer to the conversation you had, not just the standard "I'd like to add you to my professional network..."invitation.

And finally, know that there are different types and styles of networking. How do you get to know those in your company may be different from how you get to know those in your industry and broader community. That said, as LinkedIn has proven, it's amazing how true the adage of '6 degrees of separation' really is. Keep in mind how often someone you meet knows someone you know. It's a small world. Make it work for you.