Broadcast News

New-to-town Channel 5 reporter Shayna Seymour’s career depends on her knack for networking, an art she’s whittled down to three simple steps. First, “when you’re meeting someone for the first time,” she says, “take the attention off yourself and focus on them. Ask them about who they are, where they’re from, what they like.” Second, do your research. “Whether you’re doing an interview or meeting someone at a cocktail party, if you know what to expect, you can keep up the conversation and avoid awkward silences,” she says. Finally, the best way to make a lasting impression? The old-school thank-you note (Seymour gets hers printed at Crane). If you have the time and the means, a paper note is always more personal than e-mail, the Andover resident says. “I keep a box of note cards on my desk to make it an easy thing to keep up with.”