THE VIRTUAL HANDSHAKE: Survey Shows Executives Prefer Email Correspondence for Business Connections; Keeping Up with Industry Developments Primary Purpose for Professional Networking

TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Members of the C-suite are skipping the in-person meet-and-greet in favour of sending email, a new survey shows. Forty-two per cent of chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed for a Robert Half Management Resources survey said they now prefer to cultivate business relationships via email. One-third of CFOs still favour in-person networking at events, meetings and conferences. Nearly half (49 per cent) said their primary purpose for networking is to keep up-to-date on industry news.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Management Resources, the world's premier provider of senior-level finance, accounting and business systems professionals on a project and interim basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 270 CFOs from a stratified random sample of Canadian companies with 20 or more employees.

CFOs were asked, "How do you prefer to network professionally?" Their responses:

    <<
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Email correspondence                                     42%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Attend professional events, meetings, conferences        33%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Networking online                                        11%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    None/don't network                                       10%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Other/don't know                                          4%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL                                                   100%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    >>

CFOs were also asked, "What is the primary purpose of your professional networking activities?" Their responses:

    <<
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Keeping up with industry news and developments           49%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Grow your business                                       38%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Recruit new talent                                        2%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Find a new job                                            1%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Other/don't know                                         10%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL                                                   100%
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    >>

"While the ease of sending email allows professionals to connect with their contacts quickly and easily, it shouldn't be a substitute for more traditional approaches," said David King, Canadian president of Robert Half Management Resources. "Participating in face-to-face dialogue is still fundamental in developing successful connections, particularly for business development and hiring purposes. In-person meetings build rapport in a way that electronic communication cannot."

Research shows that more executives look to professional networking for keeping up with industry developments (49 per cent) and building business (38 per cent), over pursuits related to hiring and job searching.

Robert Half Management Resources offers three tips to get the most from professional networking activities:

    <<
    1. Strike the right balance. Meeting in person takes more time and effort
       than connecting online but can deliver much more value over the long
       term. Develop relationships through one-on-one meetings and referrals.
       You can then stay in touch with contacts online to keep the lines of
       communication open.
    2. Stay in the know. Monitor social media to keep current on industry
       developments and your network's reaction to them. The information you
       gather can give you valuable business insight.
    3. Don't wait until you need something. If you reach out to your network
       only when you need help, you'll weaken your ties. Be visible and keep
       in touch on a regular basis by commenting on your contacts' updates,
       offering assistance and sharing news items.
    >>

About Robert Half Management Resources

Robert Half Management Resources is the premier provider of senior-level finance, accounting and business systems professionals to supplement companies' project and interim staffing needs. The company has more than 150 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at roberthalfmr.com. Follow Robert Half Management Resources at twitter.com/roberthalfmr for workplace news.

SOURCE: Robert Half Management Resources