Not asking for help is top networking mistake - Business - results of Office Team Career Challenge survey developed by OfficeTeam

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), August, 2003

Need a favor? Mum's not the word. More than one-third of workers surveyed say not asking people for help is the top networking mistake. Failing to keep in touch with professional acquaintances ranked second, with one-quarter of the response. The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in highly skilled administrative professionals. It includes responses from 613 employed men and women, all 18 years of age or older. The findings are part of the "Office Team Career Challenge," a project designed to assist administrative professionals in advancing their careers.

Survey respondents were asked, "In your opinion, which one of the following is the biggest mistake people make when networking with professional colleagues?" Their responses were: not asking for help when they need it (37%); not keeping in touch with contacts (25%); not thanking people for their help (22%); burning their bridges with past employers (13%); and don't know/no answer (three percent).

"People often avoid asking for help for two reasons--either they are embarrassed at needing assistance or they feel they can go it alone and succeed without others' involvement," notes Liz Hughes, executive director of OfficeTeam. "In this employment market, however, every contact counts. Building your network is tantamount to building your professional marketability and visibility. Of course, asking someone to lend a hand is much easier if you've been in regular contact with that person, which underscores the importance of keeping in touch with professional acquaintances."

Hughes offers the following tips for effectively tapping into your network:

Do the prep work. Give your contacts all of the information necessary to help you. For example, if you've asked someone to serve as a reference, provide that person with a copy of your resume, a brief description of the types of jobs you've applied for, and the names of those who might be calling.

Don't beat around the bush. Be direct rather than hinting at the help you need. Also, let your contact know how much time you anticipate the favor will take. If it's more than an hour of two, you may want to rethink the request and find a way to spread it out.

Return the favor. Your contacts will be more motivated to help if you seek ways to assist them and are responsive to their requests.

Say thanks. Acknowledge everyone's efforts on your behalf with a thank-you note.