Now, before you click out of here thinking that only business people and professionals network, wait a second. You are a professional, aren't you? Aren't you also in the business of advancing and promoting yourself? Isn't who you know more important than what you know?
Here's how to get started building your own personal network:
Participate!
Join professional mailing lists (listservs) and participate in the discussions. Ask questions. State your opinions. Be sure to subscribe to mailing lists specific to your teaching interests such as a math or English listserv. Also subscribe to a profession specific mailing list such as ISED-L.
Write a blog. Read other blogs and join in the conversation. Blogs can be very effective at getting you noticed. Put another way, make sure your blog is noteworthy!
You can develop plenty of new friends from these activities if you listen to their comments, opinions and ideas. Engage in the dialogue thoughtfully.
Keep in touch!
Social networking is critical to building a productive personal network. There's really no excuse for not keeping up with your old classmates, professors, former students, parents, employers and so on. Email makes keeping in touch easy to do. Problem is, you have to do it! Do it systematically and regularly!
Farm!
Send a note of congratulations, sympathy, encouragement, concern or greetings to somebody you have not met. I know, I know! Only salespeople farm! Well, you are selling yourself, aren't you? A sincere note to somebody you have never met but admire gets your name noticed. Keep track of new people and associates you meet at business and social functions. You will be amazed at what will develop. People respond positively to random acts of kindness.
Networking is fun! If you think it is a chore, you probably aren't serious about developing the contacts needed to achieve your career objectives. It is one of the most important ways to find a private school teaching job or any job, for that matter.
