International networking specialist to speak at Southern Cross University

The person sitting next to you at university could be your next employer or let you know about a job, yet many graduates aren’t making the most of these contacts, an international networking specialist will tell a dinner at Southern Cross University (SCU) next Friday, October 10.

Robyn Henderson, who has recently been made an Adjunct Fellow at Southern Cross University, has spoken in 10 countries and presents 150 talks a year all around Australia and overseas.

“Being an alumnus from Southern Cross University could potentially open doors for graduates all over the world,” Ms Henderson said.

“I think a lot of graduates aren't utilising that powerful network that they have from university, based on a solid foundation of studying with people for a number of years,” she said. “Fellow graduates can potentially make your job easier, open job opportunities, or connect you with future employers.”

An estimated 60-70 per cent of jobs were not advertised but came through word-of-mouth, according to the Recruitment Consulting Services Association (RCSA).

“Networking is such an important part of life, it’s basically a life skill. On the night I will be clarifying what it is, how powerful it is and the doors it can open,” Ms Henderson said.

She has specialised in public speaking for the past 11 years, following on from a career in sales. She is a contributing author to the bestselling book in the US, also available in Australia, called Masters of Networking, alongside the likes of Bill Gates, Colin Powell and Deepak Chopra.

Ms Henderson, who recently moved from Sydney to Kingscliff, is one of only nine women in Australia, and 100 women globally, who are classed as Certified Speaking Professionals with the National Speakers Association of America (NSAA), which means she has achieved a certain level of income, number of clients and presentations over a number of years. She was also awarded the National Speakers Association of Australia prestigious annual Nevin Award in 2000.

Author of five self-published books, including 'Networking Magic: 366 Hot Networking Tips', and 'Be Seen, Get Known, Move Ahead', Ms Henderson is currently writing ‘The Nuts and Bolts of Networking’.

She is living proof of the power of networking, with all her speaking engagements coming through networking, word-of-mouth or her website (www.networkingtowin.com.au). One example she gave was when she was invited to speak to a group of 30 bankers in Wagga Wagga in 1998. The organiser of that asked her to a harbour cruise function in Sydney, where she met someone on the organising committee of a conference of the Arabian Society of Human Resources Management in Bahrain. He asked her to speak at their conference six months later, where she addressed 500 Arabs.

“How did I get to Bahrain? I really went to Wagga Wagga,” Ms Henderson said.

“Those sorts of opportunities come all the time. You're not looking for them, you're just building a genuine connection with someone you've got a common interest or a bit of rapport with. You keep in touch and follow-up with that person and then other opportunities really drop in your lap.”

The non-profit event at which Ms Henderson is speaking is sponsored by the Southern Cross University Alumni, and is open to the public. It will be held on Friday, 10 October, at the SCU Staff and Graduates Club, with the presentation at 6.30pm followed by a buffet dinner at 8pm. The cost for the talk and dinner is $25 for alumni and staff, $20 for students and $35 for the public. For enquiries contact Loma Graydon, SCU Alumni, Ph: 6620 3354 or email: lgraydon@scu.edu.au.

Media enquiries contact Sara Crowe or Kath Duncan, SCU Media Liaison, Ph: 02 6620 3144 or 0439 858 057.