Michael Fisher's presentation on Networking for the IT Geek

1. Michael Fisher
Molina Healthcare, Inc.

2. Michael Fisher
• 25+ years IT experience
• Currently Supervisor of Desktop
Support for Molina Healthcare in Long
Beach, CA
• HDI Certified Support Center Manager
• President Orange County HDI Chapter
…and an avid amateur musician!

3. According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2001:
• 5% of people get jobs through “open” job market (Print & online)
• Another 24% get jobs through “cold calling” companies
• 48% get jobs through referrals - NETWORKS
According to BLS in 2010:
• 40% of jobs filled are never advertised in public
• 30% of jobs are filled by someone known to the employer
How do these connections happen?
 NETWORKING 

4. I learned about Networking the hard way.
• I am a longtime IT geek.
• I was more comfortable with e-contact than face-
to-face encounters.
• Networking was fuzzy and unfamiliar…
∴ It was to be avoided.

5. I learned about Networking the hard way.
• I had an unexpected job loss in 2004.
• Started Networking from ZERO.
• Made lots of rookie Networking mistakes…
• …but I figured it out.

6. Network (net-wərk), n. An interconnected
system of things or people.
But it’s used as a Verb, too…

7. Architect (“I architected this site” )
Gift (“She gifted me” )
Regift (“I regifted that fruitcake” )
Dialogue (“We dialogued” )
Signature (“It’s a signatured baseball” )
And of course…

8. Network (net-wərk), v. to cultivate people who can
be helpful to one professionally, esp. in finding
employment or moving to a higher position.
• Networking is about building relationships.
• It’s a verb, not a noun.
Networking is something you have to DO.

9. NETWORKING IS NOT ALWAYS COMFORTABLE
• We are Geeks. We are more comfortable
with devices and GUIs than with people.
• Networking takes you out of your comfort
zone.

10. Networking is about making and building
connections with PEOPLE.
In Real Time.
It involves: Talking to people.
Calling people. Remembering people.
Meeting people. Connecting people.
HELPING PEOPLE.

11. • Networking isn’t about “What can
you do for me?”
• It’s about “What can I do for you?”

12. • Volunteer your time
 Offer to help out at an event
 Help someone with their key project
 What can you do that nobody else can?
• Positive Encouragement
 Find out what they’re doing, and show your
interest

13. • Expertise
 You have a unique and valid POV
 Share information, advice and perspectives
 Position yourself as a valued expert
• Connections
 As you build it, your network will become a
valuable commodity
 Look for ways to connect people
 This will make YOU a valuable resource

14. • Surfing Websites
• Job Boards
• Selling a Service or Product
• Online Role-Playing Games
• Wasting time
• Partying
Networking is a focused activity.

15. • Online Components
• LinkedIn The
• Facebook Big
• Twitter 3
• Plaxo, Spoke, Ning, Naymz,
Foursquare, etc…

16. • Offline (In-Person) Components
• Professional Conferences
• HDI Local Chapter meetings
• ITSMF
• PMI
• Find other local groups!

17. • It’s not a One-Night Stand, it’s an Ongoing
Commitment
• Make yourself Positively Memorable
• Seek In-Person contact before Online contact.
• “Help First, Ask Last.”
• If help is offered, Take It. (Graciously!)
 “Nothing will bind someone to
you more firmly than if they
have given you assistance.”

18. • Check your attitude
• Redefine what it means to interact with
“strangers”
• Prepare and practice your self-introduction
• Risk rejection – it’s not the end of the world
• Go introduce yourself and find out how you
can help!
Source: UC Berkeley Career Center
https://career.berkeley.edu/article/021011b.stm

19. In the next 5 minutes:
• Introduce yourself to someone you’ve never met
• Find out who they are and what they do
• Find a way you can be of help to them
Make a Connection!

20. • Stay on People’s Radar.
 Social Media can be useful for this.
• Offer to Help.
 This makes you stand out.
• Invest Time.
 Small gestures go a long way.

21. • Over-reliance on one channel
 DANGER: ONLINE CATNIP FOR THE GEEK!
• Not Listening
• Not Offering to Help
• Sales and Marketing
• Not being persistent about it

22. • Don’t Wait
• Networks take time to build, START NOW!
• Offer and Provide Help
• Volunteer to help at events
• Respond to requests for expertise
• Share your experience

23. • Have an Objective
• Set up Metrics
• “The 15 Slots”
• 15 meals per week - Breakfast, Lunch
& Dinner, Monday through Friday
• How many of those 15 slots are you
filling with Networking Opportunities?
Source: Joel Ordesky
http://firqby.tumblr.com/post/616390567/15-slots-of-networking
@firqby

24. • Elevator Speech
• Business Cards
• Even if not employed – Business
Cards are cheap
• Include your LinkedIN URL and
Twitter username on your card (and
your resume!)

25. • Networking is essential to any
21st century career
• It’s about “What can I do for you?”
• Networking is not a Magic Bullet
(you can network into bad jobs,
too)
• But it is how people get hired.

27. Michael Fisher
michael.fisher@molinahealthcare.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrfisher
@michaelrfisher
 Thanks for your time! 