Case Studies

Case study 1

5. Networking skills

5.1. Introduction to networking skills

Country	Poland
Title	Inclusive networking at an event
Summary	Since networking is an opportunity to meet, you should not block others from participating in common discussions. You should remember about empathy and also that you can learn from others. It is beneficial to include others in your conversation which will show your politeness and openness for new contacts, which is the exact purpose of networking. If you intend to have a one-to-one conversation you should step aside demonstrating the privacy.
Key Issues	Inclusion in contrary to exclusion of people to the conversation. Acceptance of different views to a topic. Demonstrating tolerance and empathy. Politeness and political correctness.
Description of the case study	You are attending a networking event organized by your company. Attendees include representatives from local and regional companies. You start speaking with a representative from a marketing company, who looks familiar to you, but you did not know the guy before. He is explaining a recent successful campaign to you and suddenly you realize that other people have gathered and are either contributing to your discussion or asking questions to the representative with whom you were speaking. You do not interrupt in the discussions, however are not comfortable with others interfering in your conversation. In the end, when people start to move around the room, you remark to the remaining ones around you that you find it rude that they had disrupted your conversation. The people neglect you.

Case study 2

Networking skills

5.2. Developing networking skills

Country	Poland
Title	Networking contacts coming in handy
Summary	The described case proves the power and importance of networking skills in situations and times when you could not expect it. Networking contacts are also beneficial in second- or third-degree connections, and can help break the ice with important people or in professional situations. What should also not be neglected is follow-up, which means getting in touch with people you exchange contacts with.
Key Issues	Engaging in networking opportunities around us. Demonstrating openness to new contacts. Remembering about the importance of follow-up in networking. “Investing” in your network of contacts.
Description of the case study	Joanna and Jacob met at a business conference in Madrid some time ago. They had exchanged business cards, but did not plan to get in touch. The exchange of contacts was mostly for courtesy and being polite. However, when Joanna plans to change her job in a few years’ time their roads cross. Joanna finds an interesting job offer through LinkedIn and looks up the company’s details on the same portal. She is astonished who her eyes see in the list of employees to that company, it is Jacob. Therefore, Joanna first contacts Jacob who promises to speak to the head of HR to set an interview. So, on one hand the “old” contact turned out to be a “good one” and on the other hand “the power” of the internet has proved to be effective. Meeting “random” people can turn out to be access to new (job) opportunities. Conferences do attract many attendees and those with diverse profiles. Although conferences will have a theme, e.g., speeches on the advancement of technology in the automotive sector or sessions on new tools for HR experts, the range of topics is far more than that, and that one experiences only have the official part finishes. Therefore, a conference attendee has the opportunity to exchange contacts while a F2F interaction and follow-up online thanks to the availability of such social media channels as LinkedIn. This was the case of Joanna.