Who Needs Networking?Networking is the pivotal professional capability in today’s workplace, and Contacts Count is the premier training company offering a wide variety of learning opportunities nationwide. For the past 17 years, we’ve helped clients recognize the many strategic applications for networking and have worked with them to increase their employee and member expertise.
• Networking is a professional and corporate competency.
Employees need development in strategic networking practices to excel at creating, cultivating, and capitalizing on the cross-functional relationships that get things done and affect the bottom line. (PricewaterhouseCoopers, Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte Touche Financial Services, Ernst & Young, Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, OPM, Department of State, Defense Information Systems Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Microsoft, Corning, Raytheon, Verizon, Grant Thornton, Brookings Institution, Institute of Management and Admin.)
• Networking is a way to build Affinity Group participation and expertise.
Members need networking skills to get the most from these gatherings and to show their character and competence as they build relationships throughout the corporation. (Booz-Allen Hamilton’s Senior Women’s Group, Corning’s Professional Women’s Forum, Corning’s Society of Black Professionals, Raytheon’s Women’s Conference, PricewaterhouseCoopers Women’s Circles, Verizon’s Assoc. for Telecommunications Managers and Associates, HSBC Bank)
• Networking is an intelligence-gathering tool.
In professional settings, such as conferences, trade shows, and meetings, people need state-of-the-art networking strategies to find the latest information on resources, trends, and best practices. (National Fisheries Institute, Abt Associates, Georgetown University, Society of Women Engineers, Department of State, FAA, Treasury Executive Institute, Telcordia Technologies, Heery International, National Geographic Society)
• Networking is a mentoring must.
Mentors and the people they coach need connecting and conversation skills to make their partnerships a success. (Women's Business Center, FAA, World Bank, Army Librarians, Women In Technology, National Business Incubation Association)
• Networking is an antidote to the brain drain.
Before experienced employees retire or move on to other jobs, advanced networking skills help them pass on their valuable organizational and technical knowledge to newer, younger staff members. (National Technology Transfer Center, National Association of Home Builders, HSBC Bank, Society of Human Resource Management)
• Networking is a business development strategy.
Professionals and entrepreneurs need to know how to gain visibility and credibility in their target markets and how to build and maintain relationships for long-term growth. (Bates White Consulting, Canadian Embassy, West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs (Chicago), Center Club of Baltimore, Miles LeHane, Decorating Den Systems franchise, Tri-State Women Entrepreneurs’ Expo, Property Management Association, Prince William Association of Realtors, American Council of Engineering Companies, Grant Thornton, the law firm of Snyder, Cohn, Collier, and Hamilton, and the law firm of Hazel Thomas)
• Networking is a membership-building tool for association staff.
Association professionals can be trained to create a "network-friendly” atmosphere at meetings and conferences, gather intelligence about trends and needs, build relationships with key influentials and board members, and continue to “sell” members on the value of association services and products. (Edison Electric Institute, Consumer Electronics Association, Employee Relocation Association, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, National Association of International Educators)
• Networking is a career and business competency for conference attendees and all members.
Conference attendees need focused networking skills to take advantage of great connections at the conference and to boost their businesses and careers back home. (National Association of Home Builders, National Business Incubation Association, Property Management Association, International Special Events Society, Outdoor Writers Association, National Association of Professional Organizers, and American Society of Association Executives)
• Networking is a job-finding and career-changing skill.
People who want career advancement need practical networking strategies to become the natural and only choice in the job market. (Presidential Management Fellows Program, General Services Administration, Health & Human Services University, Dupont, Lee Hecht Harrison, Right Management Consultants, Georgetown University, ExecuNet)
• Networking is a collegiate alumni relations and development tool.
University professionals need leading-edge strategies to build relationships that create alumni communities and attract donors. (Carnegie University Alums, George Mason University, Catholic University, Marquette University, University of Baltimore, Friends University, Internet Association Corporation)
• Networking is the key to doing business in the U. S.
International businesspeople and students need to get comfortable with and competent in the cultural ground rules for building relationships with Americans. (Canadian Embassy, Brazilian Business People, Arizona State University, Georgetown University)
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