The 20-Minute Networking Meeting - Executive Edition: Learn to Network. Get a Job.

The 20-Minute Networking Meeting is a must read for anyone seeking to build their network. Whether you are simply looking to expand your external connections, transition your career, or seek business development opportunities, this book helps you understand some foundational ground rules to ensure your success. This book is a guide not only for the first meeting, but how do I build an ongoing relationship? What’s in it for the other person? There are several editions you may choose from, pick the most relevant for you: Executive Edition, Professional Edition, Veterans Edition, and Graduate Edition. It was easy to read this entire book in one sitting. I wish I’d read this book years ago! After reading the book, I immediately ordered two more for family members who are also in transition. They loved it! Thank you, Marcia B and Nathan P for sharing this gift with the world!

This book goes through the networking interview process so you know proper protocol and etiquette before you blow your best leads. Miss this and miss out on knowing what other people are expecting you to know and do. If you think you know it all, watch out. Pride comes before a fall. Don't be so proud you do not find out in advance.

Marcia Ballinger is a nationally recognized power house and wealth of knowledge in career coaching and executive recruitment. We are also lucky enough to have her in the Twin Cities (Minnesota). I consider myself to be pretty good networker. I enjoy meeting and connecting people. That said, I learned from this book how to get the most out of networking conversation and make it valuable to both sides of the conversation. Following these practices, I've increased the productivity and outcome from networking and have landed my last two positions by networking. This is a must read for all job seekers!

I have been in transition previously, and I have taken part in numerous networking meetings. Then, I learned about "The 20-Minute Networking Meeting" thanks to a networking event. This book has equipped me with deeper insights and greater self awareness during a period when I wish to honor the other person's time and avoid inadvertently making a negative impression. Among other ideas, this book has ingrained in me the importance of asking how I might help the person who has taken the time to help me. Thank you!

A client of mine recently recommended this book to me. It was a felicitous recommendation. This small handbook, written by Dr. Marcia Ballinger and Nathan A. Perez should be considered an essential tool for anyone wanting to expand their network. "The 20-Minute Networking Meeting" is geared primarily to those who need to network in order to find their next job, but the principles outlined here can be broadly applied to any networking situation.The major takeaway from the lessons shared by the authors is that all too often, we waste the time of those who have been gracious enough to grant us a networking meeting. The book offers very specific steps to structure a meeting that will be productive and will take only 20 minutes out of the busy life of the person you have asked to meet with. It is no accident that this 20-minute time frame is very close to the optimal length of a TED talk that has evolved over the past decade. With proper planning, discipline, and execution, we can accomplish a great deal in less than half an hour.The co-authors have worked both sides of the job placement business. Dr. Ballinger founded her own executive search practice, and Mr. Perez is a consultant who works with candidates looking to make a move into a new job. Their combined vision and wisdom provides a nice balance in terms of seeing the world of networking through the eyes of the candidate and through the eyes of the persons the candidate is hoping to network with.I have already recommended those book to a number of friends and professional colleagues. It is a welcome addition to the job seeker's tool box. I am pleased to recommend it to you.

The biggest challenge to being in transition for the first time since age 14 was knowing where to focus my energies. This book solved the dilemma because effective networking is the key no matter which particular path I choose to follow and it hones the preexisting skills with an easy to apply handbook approach. I know now that I don't have to pick my path, it will be discovered in the process of expanding my network. It also solves the desire to want to help others, since so many have been generous with their time to me. Many thanks to the authors and Dave Hansen, Partner at Overnorth, who suggested it to me. I only wish I had met him before I wasted the time of those who came before him. I won't be making that mistake again.

In making a career transition, networking is key. I thought I knew what I needed to do. But after reading this book, I realized there are networking skills that I needed to improve. No matter how many years a professional you might be, this book will help you in your career transition. And it’s an easy read!

I have been recommending this book to any in a job hunt for 3 and a half years as part of a networking effort rather than any job application. This could be titled "Job Networking for Dummies"

I liked this book because it has information based on real world experience. It contains useful information and is easy to follow. Eg. Samples of wordings to use during meetings.Loved the agenda for setting up and conducting a meeting. Wish l hadn’t this when l was looking for a job. Definitely recommending to my clients.

If you've never read anything about how to be proficient at networking, this is a great starter - and for anyone, executive or not. For anyone else, the book may be useful as a refresher or reference but little more.This book *is* filled with excellent advice - following the thesis of being prepared, to the point and courteous. Unfortunately, were this book a network meeting, it would waste a full hour or more, rather than following its own 20 minute rule. Like an insecure interviewer, it spends too much time repeating that the following advice is relevant, important, easy to follow and will make a difference. Then giving more examples to illustrate that those promises had clearly been right! The points, when made, were clearly relevant. I didn't need the preamble. And, while of some use, the examples were loquacious and unnecessarily numerous.It's definitely a quick, easy read in spite of that. But it could have taken less of my time to achieve what it did. Furthermore, the information provided is pretty superficial. eg, Differences between phone and in person meetings (their benefits, drawbacks, techniques, etc) weren't even mentioned. Overall, the book lacks any depth that would have offered new insight beyond the basics.

Top notch book! Very relevant and practical way for executives to approach networking while in transition. I thought I knew what networking was all about and how to go about it…until I read this book! Very practical advice, addresses some of the common preconceptions about networking, and gives you a very reasonable framework for how to approach your efforts going forward.I felt extremely encouraged and energized after reading this book!

Great book. Everyone should take a read to learn how to drive an effective networking meeting and add value.

A quick read, and filled with real world, step by step guidance on how to conduct the perfect Networking session - wish I picked this up months ago.