tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038410312205409885.post7637228609832933571..comments2023-10-04T17:31:35.821+01:00Comments on Post from Pudding Bag Lane: The pleasures of networkingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00742847576789971837noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038410312205409885.post-39867879314580431692013-02-01T13:45:42.651+00:002013-02-01T13:45:42.651+00:00Hi Ewa, I'm really glad you liked the post - t...Hi Ewa, I'm really glad you liked the post - thanks! It's good to hear that attending CoC events worked well for you. I agree that besides gaining clients, it can help you get a good idea of the world of business (something I, for one, was pretty ignorant about when I set up my business). I really enjoyed reading your post, and thanks for the link to the conference - it looks great! A great line-up of speakers!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00742847576789971837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038410312205409885.post-22885486599782340452013-02-01T10:17:52.265+00:002013-02-01T10:17:52.265+00:00Hi Margaret, congratulations on a great post (and ...Hi Margaret, congratulations on a great post (and blog)! I also started my adventure with networking by attending my local Chamber of Commerce events, and it was one of the best business decisions I have made. Apart from the contacts I made, it was generally an excellent experience and a big learning curve. This is when I started to seriously think about my freelancing as a business. A year later I started my own networking group which is steadily growing.<br />The issue you covered in this post is something I am researching at the moment. If you are interested, I wrote a guest post on networking with people inside and outside of one's industry http://sharp-end-training.ru/are-you-networking-with-the-right-people <br />Moreover, in 2 weeks time, I will be speaking at a virtual conference on the very same topic http://t.co/Out5BYNz<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01369274097913589882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038410312205409885.post-89819719325566074842013-01-30T13:58:00.999+00:002013-01-30T13:58:00.999+00:00Thanks, Marga! I think it's important to go to...Thanks, Marga! I think it's important to go to events that a) you enjoy and b) allow you to "be yourself", so you don't feel you have to pretend to be some hotshot businesswoman - that always comes across as forced and makes it less likely that people will connect with you. By contrast, if you feel comfortable and free to chat about things not directly related to work, but that make you "you", that makes you stick in people's minds more, as you quite rightly state.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00742847576789971837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038410312205409885.post-51014383392432956492013-01-30T13:34:20.688+00:002013-01-30T13:34:20.688+00:00As an introvert, I take quite a relaxed approach t...As an introvert, I take quite a relaxed approach to networking. For me, it's not about walking into a room of strangers and giving them the 'hard sell' (I don't think I could do that - and I doubt it would be effective anyway!) It's just about getting to know people in my industry or marketplace, which is not that different from socialising. Of course I'm careful to remain professional, and talking about what I do / what I can offer has to come into it somewhere, but I think networking should also be enjoyable. There's nothing wrong with talking about a shared interest that has nothing to do with translation or your subject field - sometimes, the fact that you also love Tudor music (for example) can make you stick in a project manager's mind so that they remember you next time they need a medical translator.<br /><br />I personally like to meet people at CPD events, because that feels less intimidating to me than a dedicated 'networking event', and also gives me something to talk about. I also network online through Twitter, blogs, e-groups and so on.<br /><br />I think Marcel is spot on about translation jobs that came via networking seeming to be based on 'good luck'. The results of networking can be unpredictable and you never know whether that enjoyable chat is going to result in work three months down the line. However, the more time and effort you put in, the more likely you are to reap the rewards.Marga Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665773572145135774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038410312205409885.post-81591622321742951262013-01-30T13:07:40.563+00:002013-01-30T13:07:40.563+00:00Thaks, Marcel, this sounds fascinating! I must che...Thaks, Marcel, this sounds fascinating! I must check out the EÜK - I remember you writing about your time there on your blog! What a great place. Does anyone know of similar places in the UK?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00742847576789971837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9038410312205409885.post-8417385045666009172013-01-30T12:56:42.061+00:002013-01-30T12:56:42.061+00:00To me it has proven highly important as a translat...To me it has proven highly important as a translator to do "networking", i.e. most of my translation jobs came via friends and acquaintances and were often based on seemingly 'good luck.'<br /><br />I haven't been to a network meeting as such, I just use book fairs and conventions in my field to have a couple of pints and a chat with people. Running around with business cards really never works as - to be honest - there are just a load of talented colleagues out there. <br /><br />What I can highly suggest (and I don't know about the UK) is to stay at one of the translation centers. They usually don't charge much, you can even get a stipend for a demanding translation and get to know colleagues from all over the world (see 'interesting stories' above.)<br /><br />The German translation center is the EÜK (http://euk-straelen.de/english-information/kollegium/index.html.) One of the coolest places ever!Marcel R. Bülleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09537495830521624652noreply@blogger.com