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By: Brea Thompson

Networking at any age can be intimidating and even awkward at times. The whole meet and greet routine is not as easy as it was when you were in grammar school. Now you are in the real world, where life is more fast-paced and you have a shorter amount of time to “wow” a person or group with your amazingly gifted talents. Prior to meeting someone, there may be a thousand thoughts running through your mind from the initial greeting to calculating the minutes of small talk you must endure before getting straight to the business. Yet, you have nothing to fear. Networking is an essential component no matter what life stage you are in. With that being said, we at GSL have compiled a list to help millennial women through the art of networking at any age. Check out the list below:

Teens

High school is a monumental stage in anyone’s life and it serves as a huge stepping stone into your future. You’re never too young to reach out and make connections. Don’t be afraid to branch out! Even the smallest acts can make the difference in building a network of supportive and well-rounded individuals.

Interact with people outside of your social group

Get out of your comfort zone and hang out with people who may have different interests than you. You may be surprised to learn of new aspects and viewpoints as well as have the opportunity to share some of your own. You only go through high school once, so make the most of your time and socialize.

There is more to high school than just test, parties and sports

Use this time to test out something new such as a part-time job or volunteering. No matter how small or big the activity may be, it can definitely be an influential point for you. You may have the chance to meet students from other schools, find professionals in areas of your interest and expand skills to boost your resume.

Elevator speech

This is brief overview of you that is typically under a minute. It is a simple introduction of who you are, what grade and what are your goals. Be sure to be authentic with it! Practice it in front of family or friends first to become comfortable with talking about yourself in a professional setting.

LinkedIn profiles

LinkedIn is exactly what it says in the name. It essentially allows you to set up an online resume and connect from that point on! You have the opportunity to see what others in your potential field may be doing as well as put you in contact with them on a formal manner.

Take advantage of the resources that are available for us. Fortunately, we grew up in a time where the Internet has just about anything to offer.

— National Public Radio Interview with teenage entrepreneur Leanna Archer of Leanna’s Inc. Archer is the CEO of a natural hair product line.

Twenties

Whether you went to college, working or are taking a break from the structured life altogether, your twenties are essentially a time to figure everything out. No matter what your venture may be, networking is essential at this point of your life. These relationships will be some of the most life changing experiences of your life, so take full advantage of these years.

Invest in Business cards

This is an essential item to keep on you at all times! You never know who you may come in contact with and would want to exchange information with you. You can create your own cards and print them off at an office supply store or have someone else design them. Be sure that these cards represent you and include vital details such as name, e-mail, phone number or website.

Twitter chats

The power of social media is endless, especially with the advancement of today’s technology. Join networking groups that can serve as a support group for advice and insight on new topics. You’ll be amazed at the connections you make and the opportunities that may arise.

Online portfolio

Build a strong digital presence on platforms and showcase all your hard work. Do your research on the best site to host whatever field in. Take the time to develop what materials you want to share and if you want to take it a step further to include a business or blog. Promote yourself and ask for feedback on how to make the site more appealing. There is an immense amount of people out there, so preview their site and get ready to connect!

Find a mentor

Having a mentor in the field similar to yours is always a great start to knowledge and other individuals. This is your go-to person to ask about whatever you are pursuing. Don’t be afraid to have multiple mentors in different areas to help you expand your brand. Remember to give as much as you ask for from your mentor. Consistently be a student and create a well-balanced relationship!

Follow up

This is a necessity after the initial meeting between individuals and should be sent immediately after the exchange. It is convenient and easy to simply type e-mails and hit send, but chances are this will be buried in the recipient’s e-mail for some time. However, if you have the time to sit and write a note to be mailed, then you will definitely create a lasting impression. In the note, be sure to thank the person for their time and add in a detail from the conversation that you found helpful or interesting.

My mentors have been tremendous support, and I was lucky enough to find my “calling” early in life…In terms of mentors, I have several. Two of them that have been with me the longest are Raqiyah Mays and Erika Kendrick.

— Clutch Magazine interview with Rhonesha Byng of Her Agenda. Byng is the founder of this online site that serves as a platform to inform and inspire millennial women.

Thirties

Although you may be at a point in your career where you feel well established, networking does not stop! Now more than ever, you are at the peak of your adulthood and have gone through a vast amount of trial and error. Times are changing and you have to stay updated with your age group as well as the younger generation. This is your time to revamp and establish an ever-growing network.

Keep in touch

Keep in touch with your connects, not only when you need something, but also out of simple generosity. When people know that you are genuine about their well-being or projects, they will be more accepting to continue a relationship. Social media can play a huge factor of staying in touch, but if possible take the conversation offline to interact with individuals in person.

Update your circle

Truth is life happens and people change. The same person that you went to for all of your newsbreaks may not practice in that field anymore. Whatever the reason may be, it is time for you to reach out to your relevant market and peers to revamp your circle. It is best to have a classic and trendy viewpoint on the current trends that are taking place.

Serve as a link

You have created a mutual relationship with someone who offers a great service. It is great to continue to develop a balanced interaction, but also take the time to highlight their hard work. If you know of someone looking for a resource that the other provides, then take the initiative to introduce the two people. You will be surprised at the projects that may stem from you making a referral and how many people will return the favor. More importantly, use this time to pave the way forward and take on someone to mentor.

It was very rewarding to have people I looked up to and respected acknowledge the impact we were making at the time.

— Forbes interview with Angela Benton of NewME Accelerator. Benton is the founder of a technology service that is geared to helping businesses grow successfully.

Are you looking for more resources or even other women to help you on this networking journey? If so, there is a great site that is geared to helping with this exact cause. We hope that these tips steer you in the right direction to go out and make new connections! Good luck networking!

Note from GSL Contributor:

Hey everyone! From time to time, you will see my name pop up on the site, so why not introduce myself, right? I am Brea Thompson, a senior majoring in Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and I am a lover of organization and lists! So I decided that that is how I would share the bits of who I am with you all. In a nutshell I am: an avid thrift shopper, DIY enthusiast, natural hair product junkie, food critic, a traveler and chronic laugher!

In addition, I have always had a strong passion for reading, writing and helping others, so why not combine the three to deliver some awesome content to you all!

Social Media

Instagram: bitsofbre_ Twitter: bitsofbre_

Every holiday season between October and December, retailers hire hundreds of thousands of people, only to lay them off after the season is over. For the majority, they will only work for those few months, but for a special few this can be a long-term opportunity. Many employers are now hiring on a seasonal or temporary basis as common practice. Managers will tell you that you have a one percent chance of getting hired, but the truth is that no good manager would ever allow someone with the right characteristics to walk out the door and go work for a competitor.

You may be wondering how I know all of this information, right? Well, I am one of the few who crossed the threshold to the long-term employment side. I am the girl who went from seasonal hire to hiring manager in less than two years. I am now in charge of hiring over four hundred seasonal team members and selecting a handful that receive long term offers. Today, I want to share my journey with you all.

A few years ago, I had just quit my job to help my then husband sell insurance. Quitting was easy. I hated my job as an administrative assistant at the time and I knew it was time to move on. With entering into a new marriage, I now realize that I should have probably hung on a little longer to that job to build a foundation for myself and future plans.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that selling insurance was not for me. Even more jarring than the fact that the job killed a part of my soul, was the fact that my ex and I were working on a commission that was far from what we needed. The bills were piling up and we were tired of asking our family and friends for help, which is a sentiment I’m sure they shared. If we were going to survive, I needed a job that paid on a consistent basis.

In hopes of finding a dream job that fit my characteristics, I hit the ground running. I had some retail management experience and the holiday season seemed like a great place to start. At the time, my biggest dream was to own an online store. I thought if I could only get my foot in at an online store, I would be able to work my way to the top. The only problem was that the distribution centers for many online stores were not located in the NYC area.

One day, I stumbled onto a job posting for a seasonal position at an online store located right here in Brooklyn. By the time I saw the posting, I had applied to numerous jobs and I had even started working part-time for another retailer. I knew that it was the opportunity I was waiting for and I had to go for it. So I did.

I nailed the interview, received an offer, and started in a seasonal position that was supposed to end in late December. I actually remember tweeting something to the effect of “Easiest takeover ever” after a week or so on the job. I just knew that there was opportunity there and I was going to take full advantage of it.

Fast forward three years later and I’m going into my second holiday season as a hiring and project manager. It wasn’t an easy journey, but I did it. I am confident that if I can speak a goal into existence, then so can you. Here are five personal take-away tips for transitioning from a seasonal hire to a manager:

1. Have a vision

Not only did I want to be a manager long before joining the team, but I also wanted to run the company. That may sound naïve but if I didn’t envision myself there, I wouldn’t have made it onto the management team. As the famous saying by Brian Littrell goes: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” It’s the truth. I had complete belief in myself. Without that vision and belief in yourself, no one else will see you in that position. As you start your seasonal position, begin to envision yourself as much more than a short-term employee.

2. Ignore the cynics and the critics

As the hiring manager it’s my job to ensure that no one believes they have a chance to get a long-term offer. It’s about managing expectations. Expect opportunities to be played down and expect people to tell you that you don’t have a chance. Focus on your own vision. Whenever you have a vision or goal for yourself, you will find people willing to invest a lot of time in telling you why it won’t happen for you because it didn’t happen for them. I was probably one of the last people hired into my role that holiday season. All of my peers had months or years of experience over me and many were very cynical about growth opportunities as well as critical of my work. I had the upper hand in my response because I chose to simply ignore all of it.

3. Find mentors and make connections

The holiday season is a very short time period. Instead of focusing on the critics and the cynics, channel your focus on making connections. My hiring manager actually took an interest in me from the first day we met during my interview. He invested the time in teaching me how to run an operation from the inside out. He acted as my mentor for months by challenging me to learn the ropes in just a few short months. While learning the ropes I also made a valiant effort to introduce myself to as many people as possible on the management team. Before I knew it, I had a mentor and made connections with as many key players as I could meet. The decision to bring you on board won’t be made by one person; the entire management team is more than likely going to discuss it. You want to have a mentor that will make your case, but you want to interact with many members of the management so that there is one more person to vouch for your character.

4. Make your presence known

You want to take your connections a step further by adding value. You can’t just go around shaking hands and expect an instant connection each time. People will want to know what you can bring to the table. Your presence should add value to the team. Use your critical thinking skills, make suggestions and make improvements. I almost immediately added improvements to all of my job responsibilities. For instance, I remember staying late and leaving early. I did whatever it took to ensure that I stood out. Keep in mind that the more you stand out, the better your chances of a long-term offer.

5. Deliver and work hard

As you begin to set yourself a part, opportunities will land at your feet. Deliver! I can’t stress how important it is to deliver your full potential on any project. This isn’t the time for excuses and failure is not aligned with your overall vision. I remember being approached to train team members and feeling completely unprepared, but I did not allow that stop me. I went for it, spent the time to prepare and nailed it! This long-term offer will not be handed to you, so you must be prepared to work hard!

In order to transition from a seasonal hire to a long-term offer, you must go in with a strategy. Not only a game plan to make it up the corporate ladder, but a concept that motivates you to do better each day. When you have a clear vision of what you want, it radiates through you and is transparent to others. Keep these five tips in mind when working with your new job and great results will come your way!

NETWORKING IN YOUR TEENS, TWENTIES & THIRTIES

HOW TO GO FROM SEASONAL HIRE TO MANAGER