Would You Recognize a Golden Opportunity if it Slapped You in the Face?

I was at a nonprofit event recently and there was a photographer there taking pictures of the speakers and the attendees. As the event was ending, several of the nonprofit leaders approached the photographer to inquire about her services for nonprofits. She said sheepishly, "well I don't have any business cards on me." Still wanting to get to know her, the people who had gathered around her further inquired about her day job. Did she work for a nonprofit as well? The photographer then proceeded to tell the people that had gathered all about her current position and how much it sucked. It wasn't long before everyone walked away, muttering, "my, my look at the time."

I tell you this story because it's a prime example of missing a golden opportunity. The photographer at the nonprofit event had a captive audience for her services staring her smack dab in the face, and she blew it. Not only did she not bring business cards, but she gave the attendees a negative vibe when she started talking about her crappy nonprofit job. Let me share some tips for what you should do to capitalize on your golden opportunity when it slaps you in the face. Sometimes, you only get one chance!

Always Carry Business Cards
Business cards are still the numero uno way of exchanging information without having to stalk people down on Facebook. Especially if you're currently unemployed, you want people to have a way to contact you if they come across any job leads. Visit www.vistaprint.com to get a few hundred simple cards made up for about $20. You never know when you're going to be at a happy hour or conference and find yourself chatting up the CEO of a nonprofit you would die to work for. In the worst case scenario that you forget your cards, be sure to ask for THEIR business card so that you can follow-up. And, please DO follow-up within 24 hours, while the memory of your remarkable presence is still fresh in their minds.

Be Ready to Answer the "What Do You Do?" Question
If you're unemployed, or actively looking for a nonprofit job that's different than the one you have now, it's important to be super smooth when someone asks, "so, what do you do?" You DO NOT want to say: "Well, right now, a bunch of nothing until I find a job. Know anybody that's hiring?" You want to use this moment when you're networking to sell yourself to that person in the hopes they might connect you to a job lead. You DO want to tell them what you want to be doing in your next job. For instance, maybe you want to work in the fundraising department at a nonprofit that works on environmental issues. Even if you've only written thank you letters, you should tell people that you're a "fundraising professional with an interest in the green movement" or something similar. Now the person you're speaking to can effectively make connections for you based on your interests. Sometimes, it's not what you know, but who you know. I didn't know diddly squat about fundraising until someone opened a door for me to get into a nonprofit and learn.

Project a Positive Attitude
Nobody likes a whiner. So it would make sense that nobody wants to refer or hire a whiner. Even if your last position was the nonprofit job from hell, you don't have to tell everyone about it. In fact, you should tell NO ONE about any negative experiences you had on your last job. When you're networking, you want to be remembered as "such a nice person" with a great attitude. If people like you, they are more likely to go to bat for you when you need a favor or an introduction to a potential employer. And everyone likes a positive person. Turn your nonprofit swag on: smile, give firm handshakes, and don't be afraid to talk about your accomplishments.

Do you have a story about taking advantage of a golden opportunity? Please share in the comments or email me at rosetta@change.org!