Comments on: Networking http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/ ... the online home of a librarian in Perth, Western Australia Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:19:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: CW http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2845 CW Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:45:03 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2845 I'm glad I'm not alone :) I suppose one can build on relationships with others by attending these sessions - but again I am not good at the kind of chat needed for this to happen. jl and Penny, I reckon the net and social networking are excellent for shy/introverted people! As for parties, I usually avoid them... I’m glad I’m not alone :) I suppose one can build on relationships with others by attending these sessions - but again I am not good at the kind of chat needed for this to happen. jl and Penny, I reckon the net and social networking are excellent for shy/introverted people! As for parties, I usually avoid them…

]]> By: Penny http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2841 Penny Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:28:44 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2841 Heh - I'm better at networking behind a computer screen than IRL but I find if I make an effort to meet people it does pay off. I especially found it useful when I was a sole charge librarian for a small private training institution. I purposely attended a lot of librarian association events to meet others who could give me advice. This paid off at the time, but also when I was looking to leave that job and move into another. Funnily enough I'm much better at networking at library things than social party type events!! Heh - I’m better at networking behind a computer screen than IRL but I find if I make an effort to meet people it does pay off. I especially found it useful when I was a sole charge librarian for a small private training institution. I purposely attended a lot of librarian association events to meet others who could give me advice. This paid off at the time, but also when I was looking to leave that job and move into another.

Funnily enough I’m much better at networking at library things than social party type events!!

]]> By: jl http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2838 jl Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:04:34 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2838 I thought networking was Facebook and LinkedIn! Hehe, just kidding. I thought networking was Facebook and LinkedIn! Hehe, just kidding.

]]> By: Eric Nelsen http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2834 Eric Nelsen Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:17:12 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2834 I am pretty useless at 'networking' events as well. While I am not sure if this is a self-fulfilling prophecy due to my scepticism of their usefulness or due to my fluctuating shyness coming out, but they seem to be limited to meeting the occasional new person (friend of a colleague) or seeing those people I have worked with before and don't correspond with. It is usually limited to the perfunctory chit-chat as my skills at cocktail party-style communications don't overlap with my professional body of knowledge. I am pretty useless at ‘networking’ events as well. While I am not sure if this is a self-fulfilling prophecy due to my scepticism of their usefulness or due to my fluctuating shyness coming out, but they seem to be limited to meeting the occasional new person (friend of a colleague) or seeing those people I have worked with before and don’t correspond with.

It is usually limited to the perfunctory chit-chat as my skills at cocktail party-style communications don’t overlap with my professional body of knowledge.

]]> By: Sheena http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2833 Sheena Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:08:59 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2833 For me networking has a use when it comes to comparing problems - the more people I know in the Library sector and the more I know about their work, the more people I can approach with a problem or to ask advice about a product or approach I haven't tried yet. And hopefully, the more people will feel comfortable calling me about something I am doing in my library that they want to try in theirs. Like you, I have no expectations that networking will be good for my career path, but for day-to-day sharing of experiences and knowledge I think it is a useful thing. For me networking has a use when it comes to comparing problems - the more people I know in the Library sector and the more I know about their work, the more people I can approach with a problem or to ask advice about a product or approach I haven’t tried yet. And hopefully, the more people will feel comfortable calling me about something I am doing in my library that they want to try in theirs. Like you, I have no expectations that networking will be good for my career path, but for day-to-day sharing of experiences and knowledge I think it is a useful thing.

]]> By: Kathryn Greenhill http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2832 Kathryn Greenhill Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:08:52 +0000 http://blog.flexnib.com/2007/07/26/networking/#comment-2832 I have problems with these events too. I'm a real "kitchens at parties" kind of person - I want to be doing, not making chitchat. Even at things like the bloggers meetup, where everyone is interesting, I find it almost impossible to physically move to a seat next to people I barely know and start chatting - although I know it would be fun once I got there. I see the value of networking as building a group of "experts" who can help me out when I reach the limit of what I know. Everyone is very good at something, and I like being able to dash off an email to ask someone about their pet topic - knowing that they will be only too happy to help. I'm not sure I need a "mix n mingle" physical event to do it - then again, I ran off to a deserted beach for my wedding with just 7 people, so I'm probably not representative of most people. I have problems with these events too. I’m a real “kitchens at parties” kind of person - I want to be doing, not making chitchat. Even at things like the bloggers meetup, where everyone is interesting, I find it almost impossible to physically move to a seat next to people I barely know and start chatting - although I know it would be fun once I got there.

I see the value of networking as building a group of “experts” who can help me out when I reach the limit of what I know. Everyone is very good at something, and I like being able to dash off an email to ask someone about their pet topic - knowing that they will be only too happy to help. I’m not sure I need a “mix n mingle” physical event to do it - then again, I ran off to a deserted beach for my wedding with just 7 people, so I’m probably not representative of most people.

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