We’ve all heard before: “Just get out there and network!” If it were that easy, we’d be doing. So why is it so difficult? Well, you’re an introvert, right? Enough said. However, unless the prospect of a lengthy job search excites you, you have to go out there and connect with people who do not know, but who may benefit from your experience. Here are a dozen tips to help you crack the code of connection. 1. Assist with one purpose in mind. Be selective with the events to attend. Pick the ones that interest you most.

It could be a ribbon cutting for a new business, a mixing chamber of commerce, the benefit SPCA, or pink slip party. 2. Take a friend. Make a game of it. Challenge to beat the winner objectives established for the treatment of ice cream.

3. Plan ahead. Set a goal of building networks to talk to at least five people and collect business cards of three individuals in your industry, profession or career interest. 4. Divided. Rule # 1 is you can not talk to your partner network until you have reached the targets it has set for itself. That means you can not sit with each other, hang around the dinner table together or are attached to the break room. However, you can smile encouraging the room. 5. Surprise, it is not you! Come to someone who does not know. Ask the other person a question of openness. It can be as simple as: “What made you decide to participate in tonight?”, “What brings you to this meeting?”, “Do you go often?”, Or “What kind of work do you do?