Mac Prichard

Many people don't know what to say to others at networking events. Here's one of the best ways to put yourself and others at ease and build genuine connections: Focus the conversation on the other person, not you. Come prepared with a simple icebreaker like "What brings you here tonight?" Follow up with open-ended questions that can lead to more general conversation and allow you to add your own ideas and stories. Great conversationalists are good listeners, too, so don't let your attention wander when the other person is speaking. Authentic curiosity in the jobs and interests of others can not only help you build real relationships in your industry, it will also give you invaluable professional insights and knowledge.

Before you register for a networking event, ask yourself why you want to go. Perhaps the event is sponsored by a professional organization you're considering joining in order to meet others in your field. Maybe you want to talk with the event speaker, organizer, or a group member who you hope will give you advice about a specific job search question or an introduction. Or you want to meet to meet one new person in your industry. Whatever the goal, know want you want before you go and keep it simple. Making one valuable connection is a big accomplishment. And don't forgot that the most successful networkers not only ask for help, they also ask others how they can be of service to them.

At the end of every interview, always ask about the next steps in the hiring process. Don't leave the interview room or end a call until you do this. Make sure you find out the hiring manager's timetable, who you should check in with, and the best way to communicate. Doing this shows your interest in the job and takes the guess work out of when you should follow up, with whom, and how to do so. Reach out if you don't hear anything by the date the employer gave you. Reaffirm your interest in the job and say you're writing or calling because you know the hiring manager hoped to make a decision by this date. If you get no response, follow up two weeks later, and once more three weeks after that. Then move on.

If you've been in the workplace for a while, you've probably hired others or served on an interview committee. Think for a moment about your reaction to the candidates who wrote thank you notes and those who didn't. You or your colleagues likely thought not sending a note signaled a lack of interest in the job. Don't be that person. Email or send a card within a day. This also gives you a reason to ask the interviewers you meet for contact information and connect with them on LinkedIn. Before you leave the interview room ask about next steps in process, dates for making decisions, and what to do if you don't hear from the employer. Hiring managers expect you ask these questions and it will let you follow up effectively.

I'm always surprised by the job seekers I meet who don't prepare for an interview. Sometimes this happens because of lack of experience, especially among recent graduates. But often applicants tell me they treat interviews as a chance to learn about the company and the job. That's a big mistake. You're competing against people who are prepared and want the job. So before you walk into the interview room make sure you understand an employer's challenges. And come ready to show you're the person who can solve those problems. Make a list of likely interview questions. Practice your answers in advance. And have your own questions ready. This is one of your most important business meetings of the year. Why would you wing it?

I run a regional job board, so I talk to job seekers and employers all the time. And sometimes candidates tell me they don't have time to customize a resume or a cover letter. I'm always sorry to hear this because using the same resume and cover letter everywhere reduces your odds of getting an interview. Even in a tight labor market employers receive multiple applications for a position. So the candidate who tweaks a resume and writes an original cover letter for every job has a big advantage over competitors who "spray and pray." Yes, it probably takes an hour or more to research an employer and update your application materials. But it's worth the effort because your interest and excitement about the job will make you stand out.