1. Get some business cards. Do this now. I suggest keeping them very simple so you don't have to throw them away all the darned time when you update them. Name, number, professional email address AND domain. If you have me a business card with "sk8_0r_die@aol.com" I'm going to laugh my ass off.
2. Introductions. Introduce yourself to absolutely everyone -- you don't know who that person is, what their connections are, and who is watching you interact. Yeah you're shy, blah blah blah, so put on your big-boy pants and fake it for a few hours. This is especially big this year at NJC because there are a few people I'm coordinating with to attend the networking event that can certainly make your career. But I'm not telling any of you guys who they are. YOU have to find them. They're coming to a 'networking event' and it's not a job fair so get off your asses and make sure you've met everyone in the room. Plus, if they can't make it for one reason or another, well, I don't have to deal with people crying like Apple just ran out of iPhones. There are, at most, two degrees of separation between yourself and your career goals.
2a. I can't stress this enough. Re-read the above paragraph.
3. Don't under-estimate your value. You may be going to a networking function to seek help moving ahead in your profession, but there is probably someone there than will greatly benefit from what you have to offer.
4. Always follow up. Always always always. Just because you gave a chief pilot or recruiter your business card does not mean that you're 'in like Flynn' and your work is done. It's just begun. Never underestimate the value of a 'follow up' coffee or beer a few weeks later.
5. Be yourself. Self explanatory. If you're a cut up, be a cut up. If you're a nerd, be a nerd, because when you're yourself, you're being genuine. Fake is obvious. If you're a dick, well, the world needs ditch diggers too. Professional aviation is a field where everyone under the sun has a Commercial Multi-Engine Instrument, perhaps an ATP, etc so companies, chief pilots and recruiters are looking for personalities. You can be Chuck Yeager, but if people want to strangle you in the first five minutes of speaking to you, again, the world needs ditch diggers too!
6. Make the connections BEFORE you need them. I don't know how many times I've heard "Well, I need about 50 more hours of whatever and then I'll start networking" or the "I need a job"/"Ok, do you have a name? Who are you?" exchange. Always talk about your goals, yes, however learn the subtle nuance between "driven to achieve" and "desperation". If GlobalAirlines is opening up a hiring window tomorrow, you should have been making contact with people months ago. The day the hiring window opens, every Tom, Dick and Harry is going to be hitting up your contact on that day. Already have that contact made and make sure you interests are crystal clear well before the announcement about the window opening. This is important
7. Work on your 'elevator pitch'. More or less an 'elevator pitch' is being able to sell yourself or an idea to someone, at the drop of a hat, in the time it takes for the elevator doors to close, go up a few floors and open again. "Who are you? What do you want? Where do you want to work and WHY do you want to work there?" Figure out the answers to those questions and practice it. Be able to do this cold. If you tell me you want to work for SouthernJets one day, but you don't know the bases, the fleet or even that it's "SouthernJets" and not "Southern Jets", I think you're just spitballing for any opportunity.
8. "Re-Introduce". You meet Mark that works at "Global Airlines", but then you meet Frank that works at "Medium Sized National", if you introduce them to one another, you've scored massive points with both Frank and Mark... and if they're in a position to help you, you've just set yourself apart in a positive light.
9. Ask questions. Dead air is awkward for everyone.
That's all I can think of.
Good luck.
2. Introductions. Introduce yourself to absolutely everyone -- you don't know who that person is, what their connections are, and who is watching you interact. Yeah you're shy, blah blah blah, so put on your big-boy pants and fake it for a few hours. This is especially big this year at NJC because there are a few people I'm coordinating with to attend the networking event that can certainly make your career. But I'm not telling any of you guys who they are. YOU have to find them. They're coming to a 'networking event' and it's not a job fair so get off your asses and make sure you've met everyone in the room. Plus, if they can't make it for one reason or another, well, I don't have to deal with people crying like Apple just ran out of iPhones. There are, at most, two degrees of separation between yourself and your career goals.
2a. I can't stress this enough. Re-read the above paragraph.
3. Don't under-estimate your value. You may be going to a networking function to seek help moving ahead in your profession, but there is probably someone there than will greatly benefit from what you have to offer.
4. Always follow up. Always always always. Just because you gave a chief pilot or recruiter your business card does not mean that you're 'in like Flynn' and your work is done. It's just begun. Never underestimate the value of a 'follow up' coffee or beer a few weeks later.
5. Be yourself. Self explanatory. If you're a cut up, be a cut up. If you're a nerd, be a nerd, because when you're yourself, you're being genuine. Fake is obvious. If you're a dick, well, the world needs ditch diggers too. Professional aviation is a field where everyone under the sun has a Commercial Multi-Engine Instrument, perhaps an ATP, etc so companies, chief pilots and recruiters are looking for personalities. You can be Chuck Yeager, but if people want to strangle you in the first five minutes of speaking to you, again, the world needs ditch diggers too!
6. Make the connections BEFORE you need them. I don't know how many times I've heard "Well, I need about 50 more hours of whatever and then I'll start networking" or the "I need a job"/"Ok, do you have a name? Who are you?" exchange. Always talk about your goals, yes, however learn the subtle nuance between "driven to achieve" and "desperation". If GlobalAirlines is opening up a hiring window tomorrow, you should have been making contact with people months ago. The day the hiring window opens, every Tom, Dick and Harry is going to be hitting up your contact on that day. Already have that contact made and make sure you interests are crystal clear well before the announcement about the window opening. This is important
7. Work on your 'elevator pitch'. More or less an 'elevator pitch' is being able to sell yourself or an idea to someone, at the drop of a hat, in the time it takes for the elevator doors to close, go up a few floors and open again. "Who are you? What do you want? Where do you want to work and WHY do you want to work there?" Figure out the answers to those questions and practice it. Be able to do this cold. If you tell me you want to work for SouthernJets one day, but you don't know the bases, the fleet or even that it's "SouthernJets" and not "Southern Jets", I think you're just spitballing for any opportunity.
8. "Re-Introduce". You meet Mark that works at "Global Airlines", but then you meet Frank that works at "Medium Sized National", if you introduce them to one another, you've scored massive points with both Frank and Mark... and if they're in a position to help you, you've just set yourself apart in a positive light.
9. Ask questions. Dead air is awkward for everyone.
That's all I can think of.
Good luck.
