Networking Networking Networking

After attending the ISES (International Special Events Society)  networking evening last Wednesday night. It reiterated to me how important networking is in life. It doesn't matter what industry you work in, networking is somewhat the basis of every job. 

In Australia, networking is not as profoundly needed from my experience. When it comes to jobs your cv holds a lot of weight in Australia. In Dubai, your cv still holds equal weight, but what far outstretches the status of a cv is who you know. All industries in the middle east are based around who you know not what you know. 

This is one of the many fascinating things I have learnt along the way, which helps my acting career. That is that even if you don't want to you have to go out and show face and network cause one day one of those connections that you have made will give you your next job or big movie role or your next big life step. 

One of the basic traits or skills needed is to simple know how to start a conversation and know when to leave a conversation. To start a conversation it can be as simple as introducing yourself and perhaps asking then what it is they do... the way I have learnt to instigate a conversation is, before you introduce yourself have formulated in your head three open questions. So not questions that are yes or know, but questions that require the person to give you information so that the conversation may continue.  

This will give you guaranteed success, then the length of the conversation is up to you. Always have an exit strategy as well for example: 'are you right for a drink, please excuse me' Or even just simply excuse yourself.  

The bottom line is an what I have learnt, everything is an opportunity to network you just have to seize it with both hands.  

Blake Stemm