THE THIRD STEP, after you have determined why you're networking, is to carefully review what you have to offer and what you are seeking. Knowing yourself better will enable you to talk easily with greater confidence to your networking contacts, and it will help you to make a match with careers and employers that is right for you. To facilitate this self-assessment, consider your skills, interests, and values. Take a few minutes, then, to reflect on the questions below.
- What are your greatest accomplishments? Of what are you most proud? What are the skills or experiences that enabled you to achieve these accomplishments? List your 'top ten' accomplishments and then describe these in enough detail so you begin to see common threads of interest and skills. For instance, perhaps you were selected to serve as an ambassador for your high school or university and you also volunteered to be the programs' chair for the Finance Club. Both of these accomplishments require excellent interpersonal skills, a flair for organization, and good public speaking ability.
- What interests you professionally and personally? What courses, work experiences, or activities do you enjoy? Conversely, what do you dislike doing? If you find it hard to answer these questions, consider taking a career interest test. Your university's career services office will be able to provide you with information about taking an interest test.
- What is important to you? Is it helping others? Is it working in a creative environment? Are positions of influence and authority attractive to you? Do you want to work independently, or as part of a close-knit team? Consult with your university's career services office if you are interested in learning more about work-related values and the steps you can take to assess yours.
