Think you can get ahead just by working hard? Get real, chances are that you work in a people based business and need to know how to meet people. Here are some useful tips on how to become the king or queen of networking.

1. Get out there.

Experience makes a real difference, if there is an opportunity- go for it!

2. Bring cards…lots of cards.

The old business card swap is a networking classic ( P.S. Check out this guy! ).

3. Target people.

Proper networking events have lists of attendees, grab a pen and highlight those you need to talk to. This is a great time to understand their business.

4. Don’t get trapped.

You don’t want to get stuck with Colin from accounts all evening, make an excuse and move on. A simple one could be ‘I really need to catch up with ***** ****, lets meet later and talk some more’.

5. Follow our rapport tips.

Shameless BusinessBird self-promotion here.

6. Realise it is a two way street.

In your conquest for world domination, people are more likely to help you if you help them.

Take some time to listen to what they are saying, and think of ways you can help make their lives easier.

7. Ask questions.

Someone reminded me today of a phrase I go on and on about, “if you don’t ask you don’t get”.

By asking questions you are showing both an understanding of the discussion and are much more likely to get something out of it.

8. Be yourself.

It can be tempting to try and come across as someone you are not, nobody really likes these people.

If you are honest, open and remain vaguely professional then things are much more likely to go your way.

9. Make notes and follow up.

Write some details about them on the back on their business card, this is useful later on when you need to follow up with them.

10. Take a chance and don’t drink too much!

It can be intimidating walking up to someone you don’t know and chatting away, however the truth is most people in the room are feeling exactly the same way.

It might help to come up with a little ice breaker which is fairly generic and non-offensive (!), but don’t worry too much about reciting lines.

As a side note, be careful with the old vino, as the drunk guy doing the Macarena probably isn’t going to go far…

Very often you will be working in a team of people that are doing the same things as you, or applying for a job against people with similar backgrounds.

So how can you secure that job, get that prize or promotion? It is not always as difficult as you think…

1. Manage Expectations…Then Exceed Them!

Isn’t it nice when you get more than you expect?

Make sure the people you are working for know what they are going to get at the end of the day, this helps them plan ahead and establishes you as a reliable person.

Also be careful not to establish yourself as a person who can’t get things done, planning and communication can get your through this.

2. Get really good at what you do.

This may seem really obvious, but it is a key idea.

You can do all the wonderful things in the world and it won’t make a huge difference if people are concerned that you are not doing what they expect you to do.

It can be difficult, especially if what they expect you to do isn’t really as fun as the alternatives.

3. Show an understanding of where you fit in.

Getting the bigger picture can open up doors to you.

It is very very difficult to be in charge of something you don’t quite understand.

4. Show some leadership skills.

Want to be a leader? Act like one.

5. Be enthusiastic and try new things.

Building up lots of experience always looks great when its time for your performance to be reviewed.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and volunteer for work/projects. As mentioned in point 2, your core tasks should always be a priority.

6. Make notes.

I find that people often remember the unfavorable things a person has done but gloss over some of the things that have gone well.

Always note down if you do something well, this is great if you ever have to self-review. One way to do this is to sneakily keep an email folder in Outlook.

7. Use what you know- my favorite tip!

I like this as it can be very easy to do.

Chances are you may have some experience in an area your teacher/professor/boss is not familiar with.

This can be through previous jobs, hobbies or even other classes/training programs.

Take a second and think if you can use any of this knowledge to help you move ahead!

Here is an example:

I used to work in online marketing and noticed the articles on the corporate website could be improved, so I made this:

Click to open .pdf file

8. Write things down

This helps make sure you don’t have to ask the same question twice, I always carry a notebook with me.

9. Understand risk

If you work for a company chances are they will be constantly worrying about ‘risk issues’ (especially in this economic climate).

This is pretty much the chance of getting sued or damaging the corporate brand. If you can show you can help reduce this risk, you are on to a winner.

For example, if you are talking to a client and they ask a question you have no idea about, it is best to ring them back once you have had a chance to make sure what you are saying is right.

10. Learn from mistakes

Yep, we have a guide.

You only have two pages to persuade an employer to interview you. So how do you make your CV stand out from the rest? Harriet gives some insider tips into crafting the perfect CV.

1. Find out what they want from you.

Do they want a CV? Do they want a covering letter too? A CV and a covering letter are not the same thing! You can’t just say ‘refer to my CV’ in your covering letter. Doing each properly shows the employer that you are keen on the job.

2. Tailor your CV towards the job.

Employers are looking for skills that will make you the best candidate for a specific job. Lots of information about other skills in totally unrelated areas is just extra reading for them. This therefore means you need a very clear idea understanding of what the job entails. Illustrate what you as an individual can bring to their company. Don’t be lazy and send out the same CV to all your potential employers. Spending that extra 10 minutes to tailor your CV could mean the difference between success and rejection. Try to see your CV from their perspective!

3. Talk about results.

Saying ‘I’m a very organized person’ on your CV is all very well but how do employers know that is true? You need to provide evidence that you have all the qualities that you list. Instead you should put something like ‘I am a very organized person because I was able to organize a fundraising event for the bird watching society’ etc.

4. Properly reference your employers Company names.

You will sound a lot more professional if you use their whole name. It is Marks and Spencers not M&S. If you worked for an individual make sure you use their whole name. Working for ‘my mate dangerous Dave’ will impress no-one.

5. If they ask you provide references- do it!

Surprisingly people don’t always do what they are told by the job advert. If it says provide two references, you should do it. If they require referees that know you in a professional/academic context, make sure this is the case. Ensure that your referees are aware that they are giving you a reference- and ideally which companies/jobs you are applying for. They can then tailor your reference to talk about how keen you are on the company, and all the relevant experience you have. You can even give your referee a copy of you CV to help them promote you. However, if you don’t want the company to contact your current employer before an interview, it is perfectly acceptable to ask them to wait.

6. Volunteer!

If you’re really stuck for experience try volunteering. By going out and finding work experience it shows the employer that you have initiative and are interested in the sector. It also shows that you understand what the job entails. It is a great way of making new contacts in the area, and if you’re good they may end up employing you! Volunteering in other areas (such as the care or charity sectors) can be extremely rewarding and looks good too.

7. Emphasize your strengths, not your weaknesses.

OK so you took a year off or were unemployed for a short time. It is not the end of the world- what did you do in that time? Teach yourself a new skill? Gained some new experience? Focus on the positives, and so will the employer.

8. Make it readable.

Employers have to shift through tens or even hundreds of CVs, often in a very short period of time. Using tiny or ridiculous font will not endear you to the employers, and the employer may give up reading it. Keep it to two pages, and make it crisp and concise.

9. Get someone else to read it.

You’ll be surprised how many times you have to read a CV to get it right. It is very easy to leave typos in- but they are the first things the employer will notice. A sloppy CV could lose you your dream job. Spell check is a must. Always get a third person to read your CV before you send it off- a fresh pair of eyes can be invaluable.

10. Keep copies.

You never know when someone may ask for your CV, so aim to keep one handy. Also, be sure to read your CV just before you go in for an interview as you employers will base their questions on your CV.

1. Don’t make yourself sound troublesome.

If you ended your last job on a bad note don’t put this in your CV. Citing ‘creative differences’ make you sound difficult to work with. Avoid putting such things in your CV, and if asked always remain polite about your previous employer, whatever your feelings. Including your previous salary on your CV is not a good idea. It may either intimidate your employer, or lead them into thinking they can pay you less. Leave them guessing.

2. Don’t use jargon.

You may be an expert in your particular field, but your employers may not. For example, an IT consultant shouldn’t write about coding and RAM in an application for a job in an insurance company. It will scare the employer into thinking that they will never understand a word the candidate says. Instead, make sure that the employer can understand the significance of what you did, and show them that you will be able to work with them effectively.

3. Don’t lie.

Employers will ask about your CV and if they catch you out the interview is over. If they find one lie how can they trust the rest of your CV? Also, some employers will ask you to provide certificates at the interview. Be honest.

4. Don’t underestimate your achievements.

It can be quite hard looking at a blank sheet of paper trying to list your achievements. However, when you start to think carefully about it, you’ll find that you actually have achieved a lot. Have you been in a club or society? What skills did that give you? Did you help organize an event? Have you ever had any administerial experience? Worked in a team? It all counts- and looks very attractive to employers.

5. Don’t include a picture.

Employment law in the UK is very strict about various types of discrimination (e.g. age, ethnicity) – including a picture makes it harder for them to be truly objective about your CV. So no matter how pretty you are, leave a photo out.

6. Never include a quote or tagline, you are not a movie.

You do not need a tagline. Also, if you didn’t come up with the quote why include it? The CV is about YOU. While it is important to promote your achievements, keep your ego in check- remember that the employer will be thinking about how you will work in a team.

7. Don’t use embarrassing email accounts.

It would be such a shame if they decided to offer you the job, only to find that they have to contact ivorbigun@hotmail.com, or naughtygirl4u@hotmail.com. You should present yourself as professionally as possible. Get a boring sounding email address, even if it is only temporary.

8. Don’t just leave it there – keep it updated regularly.

You’ll be surprised how much you achieve in a year, and it is easy to forget to include this on your CV. By keeping your CV up to date you are presenting the best of yourself to your potential employers.