BPW/WA Networking
Opportunities
There are many networking opportunities
within BPW/WA. You can either go to a State meeting, such has Fall Board or State
Conference (see BPW/WA State Events), or
you can attend a Local meeting in your area. BPW/WA's meetings are informative with
dynamic speakers. The meetings are also a great place to meet women who have diverse
professional interests but are of one mind politically (see Legislative Platform). Below are some helpful
suggestions on how to begin to be an accomplished networker within BPW and in your
professional life.
This page supplies good information on the
following:
-
Networking
for Novice
-
Conversational
Starters
Networking
for the Novice
Let's start with
Networking Introductions. Take
each time frame below and talk about one bullet point during a BPW meeting and mix it
up!
10
Seconds or Less
-
Name, local, and office(s) held
-
Name and years in BPW
-
Name, company, and position
30
Seconds or Less
-
Name, something new or, if no one knows about you, talk
about yourself
-
Name, current goal you are working on
-
Name, current project or cause you are passionate about
60
Seconds
-
Name and promotion (elevator
speech)
-
Name and brag about
something
-
Name and homework reporting:
Homework ... Keep it simple,
keep it interesting, and have fun.
-
Practice your 60 second networking pitch on family/friends and get feedback
-
Shake hands with male family members and report back (firm or obsequious)
-
Create ew networking introduction modes
-
Brainstorm at least one contribution to one of the ideas
-
Memorize the Collect and talk about it
-
Crete a fun BPW quiz (submit to state for posting)
-
Attend another organization's meeting to promote BPW and note what they are doing
-
Perform a random act of kindness
-
Catch a difficult co-worker/client/family member doing something right and give a
sincere deserved compliment
-
Clip a newspaper article about a prominent woman or woman and talk about it
-
Call a BPW member you don't know well and chat for ten minutes
-
Visit another BPW member's business
-
Ask for help
-
Graciously accept a compliment and give one
-
Make one referral promotion for another BPW member
-
List the thing you like most about your Local and the top thing you would like to see
changed
-
Make a bucket list and discuss it
-
Wear your BPW lapel pin to work one day (share with anyone who asks about it and
invite them to a meeting)
-
Prepare a 60 second influential speech about a favorite something (suduko, politics,
knitting, skiing, author, movie, pet)
-
State what your personal motto is
-
What is the best or most difficult interview question you were ever asked
Conversation
Starters
Some people are not
comfortable in groups or are shy. Conversation Starters can help and are definitely a
form of networking. Practice these when you meet new people or at a BPW meeting. Many of
the questions below are closed, meaning they can be answered with one word. Use follow
up questions that require details, description, or they can relay a story.
-
Do you belong to any other
organizations?
-
How long have you lived in
the area?
-
Where do you work?
-
Do you work in a small or
large business?
-
How long have you been in
that career?
-
What are your hobbies?
-
How did you first hear
about BPW?
-
What is the best part of
your job?
-
What challenges does your
business face?
-
Have you heard a great
speaker lately?
-
Do you attend seminars or
conferences for work?
-
What’s the most memorable
PR gimmick you have ever seen?
-
Do you know your
personality work style?
-
What type of personality do
you like to work with/have for a boss?
-
Are you familiar with
parliamentary procedures?
-
Does your job require you
to attend meetings?
-
Does your career require
continuing education credits or re-certification?
-
Tell me about your job?
-
Would you be interested in
mentoring your job/profession to a student?
-
Do you enjoy meeting new
people?
-
Do you get enough
opportunities to socialize with other professional women?
-
Are there personality
clashes and conflict in your workplace?
-
What’s an average day
like at your job?
-
What’s your dream job?
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