4 Best Networking Techniques for Seniors
If you’re a senior wanting to stay connected with people in your professional field, networking is your best bet! But how do you find others to meet up with and discuss the state of your industry? Today, Iron Will shares four techniques to keep you engaged with your work community:
Become a Mentor
You may be retired, but you still have a lot to offer to younger people trying to break into your field or industry. Becoming a mentor will not only benefit the person you’re mentoring, but it will also have several benefits for you, too. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the future and leave a positive legacy behind. Plus, if you want to keep working and become a consultant for other firms and businesses, mentoring the younger generation will help you stay in the know when it comes to the latest technologies, discoveries, and techniques in your field of work. And by sharing your knowledge and insights, as well as your contact lists, you and your mentee will be able to form networking connections that can lead both of you to great opportunities.
Dust Off Your Résumé
When you’re out and about, ready to network, it’s important to have something people can remember you by. Consider getting business cards printed with your contact information, and hand them out as you meet new faces. And if you want to get involved in volunteer work or help a company grow by sharing the experience and knowledge you’ve gained over the years, think about creating a professional-looking résumé or revamping your old CV using a free online résumé maker. Choose from a selection of visually pleasing templates and follow step-by-step instructions to enter all the relevant information about your education, background, work experience, awards, and recognitions. Include keywords that will get you noticed, and voilà! You’re ready to go to your next trade association meeting.
Start Your Own Business
Being retired doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams. If you’ve always wanted to start a business and remain a leader in your community, consider forming an S corp and launching a new venture. With an S corporation, your personal assets will be protected in case of litigation, you’ll only be taxed once as a shareholder, and you’ll be classified as an employee, which means you’ll save on payroll tax. Once you have appointed a registered agent, elected directors, and completed the S corp filing process, make sure you have an elevator pitch ready to describe your business and spark the interest of potential clients and investors as you meet new people around town.
The next step is marketing. While spreading the word via social media is an obvious must, you should also look into content marketing, which involves producing high-quality, engaging content to resonate with a specific target audience and help with SEO building. If you could use a crash course, here's a great resource to help you get started.
Join Online Groups and Communities
Have you been feeling isolated now that you’re out of the workforce? Check the internet to find groups and people in your field and start participating in conversations that are relevant to you and your trade. You might also want to focus on reconnecting with old friends and classmates, as well. There are plenty of online resources to help; for instance, if you want to reconnect with classmates in Baltimore, you can search all the school listings in moments.
Learn about virtual or in-person events, seminars, and conferences you may be interested in attending and where you’ll be able to meet and mingle with your peers. Being an engaged participant will help you stay up to date with the latest developments in your industry, and you’ll get to know the players in your field on a deeper level. And whether you’re looking for a part-time job or trying to recruit partners for your new business, it will be a lot easier to find what or who you’re looking for.
Nowadays, there are many ways for seniors to stay engaged with the community, whatever their field of interest is. You can look for online groups or volunteer opportunities, stay informed by signing up for events and conferences, find people eager to learn from you, and even start your own business. So, revamp your résumé, and go share your experience!
Iron Will is here to provide a respectful space for others to connect and inspire each other to become more active in reading. If you have any questions, please email blogironwill@gmail.com.
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This article was written and submitted by Mark Harris
www.awarenesstoolkits.com
Sources: (listed in order)
Iron Will - https://www.ironwillsblog.com/ several benefits for you - https://artofmentoring.net/11-reasons-why-you-should-be-a-mentor-2/ sharing your knowledge and insights - https://www.national.edu/2016/08/25/5-reasons-why-mentoring-is-necessary/ free online résumé maker - https://www.resumegiants.com/resume-builder/ next trade association meeting - https://dca-global.org/why-join-a-trade-association here's a great resource - https://www.cornerstonecontent.com/ Have you been feeling isolated - https://vantageaging.org/blog/effects-of-senior-isolation/ reconnect with classmates in Baltimore - https://www.allhighschools.com/state/md/city/baltimore stay up-to-date - https://guild.co/blog/why-join-online-community/