How to Create a Networking Action Plan

Happy Friday!!  Today I am going to share with you some of the networking challenge resources that can be found in my monthly networking newsletter.  If you haven't signed up to receive the newsletter, just send me an email at classycareergirl@gmail.com to be added.
The key to knocking down your barriers to networking is to make a networking action plan. Here are a few important questions to think about that will help you figure out who you should contact:

1. My specific career focus or what I want to investigate is?
2. In the next three years, my short term career goal is?
3. In the next 5-10 years, my long term career goal is?
4. What is working in my network?
5. What is not working in my network? Where am I under invested and where am I over invested?
6. Given my career goals, what kinds of people should be in my network?

Now, here is a sample networking action plan that you can use to start networking like crazy!

1. List people to connect with: Sally who works in HR, Fred who goes to my church
2. Organizations to join: Society of Human Resource Managers, Professional Women's Society
3. Ways to improve my networking skills: Ask friends for referrals, introduce myself to others
4. What are my specific plans and commitments? Plan one lunch per week, spend two hours per week making phone calls and staying in touch with friends by email. Attend one organization meeting per month.
5. To keep myself accountable I will: review and revise my strategy once per month, get together with a friend and review my goals once per month.

Spend a few minutes today thinking about your responses to these questions.  Since we are all about helping each other stay accountable here at classy career girl, feel free to share your goal or your networking action plan for the month of March in the comments below.  Good luck!