Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Networking Your Way to Success
On the whole, Italy is a very mistrustful society and, as any expat or Italian will tell you, networking is crucial when it comes to finding work or leads for potential work.
Of course, some people are more successful than others - it's all down to the approach they take to developing and nurturing their network.
What networking isn't about is writing to someone you don't know and expecting them to give you the contact details of third parties.
After all, put your self into their shoes. They don't know anything about you and how reliable you are as a person and if you aren't reliable, that will reflect badly on the person making the referral.
I'm generous with my contacts and I love connecting as many people as possible, but I can only do that once I have established a rapport with someone, have discovered common interests and know that we will be sharing resources, whether now or in the future.
So when it comes to finding out information about Italy, don't expect strangers to give you referrals. That will probably only happen once you have become acquaintances and then friends.
You may be anxious to get your Move-to-Italy project underway but by taking time to develop contacts initially, you're more likely to move further ahead in the long-run.
Emma Bird is the co-founder of www.howtoitaly.com
Of course, some people are more successful than others - it's all down to the approach they take to developing and nurturing their network.
What networking isn't about is writing to someone you don't know and expecting them to give you the contact details of third parties.
After all, put your self into their shoes. They don't know anything about you and how reliable you are as a person and if you aren't reliable, that will reflect badly on the person making the referral.
I'm generous with my contacts and I love connecting as many people as possible, but I can only do that once I have established a rapport with someone, have discovered common interests and know that we will be sharing resources, whether now or in the future.
So when it comes to finding out information about Italy, don't expect strangers to give you referrals. That will probably only happen once you have become acquaintances and then friends.
You may be anxious to get your Move-to-Italy project underway but by taking time to develop contacts initially, you're more likely to move further ahead in the long-run.
Emma Bird is the co-founder of www.howtoitaly.com
