Casting out information about yourself can have surprisingly quick and far-reaching results. The trick, of course, is to make that information reflect positively, and to ensure your name is attached to it.

• Don't like talking about yourself? - Ask others questions about their work. If you meet someone who's in any way connected with what you want to be doing, delve further into that, mentioning your interest in working in that field. Not comfortable piping up yet or it still feels inappropriate? Keep asking questions. It's a great way to learn more about an industry, and what employers are looking for. If the person you're talking to is at all perceptive, they'll eventually ask why you're so interested - that's the time to tell them about what you do and what you want to be doing.
• When you do talk about yourself, be sure in your own mind what your major skills are and how you're going to you use them. You don't need to recite your resume on-cue - just be able to say briefly and confidently what you want to be doing and why you'll be good at it.
• Having some nicely printed, 'old school' cards with your contact details on them, lets you hand them out to anyone you meet - be it for work or social reasons. While following up with an email or e-cards might be in fashion, someone with you card will be reminded of you every time they open their wallet or purse. If there's a particular point someone should associate with you, you can always jot a note down on the card to reinforce it.
• If you meet someone through a friend, before parting ways be sure to mention your mutual acquaintance, thereby reinforcing what is essentially working for you as a reference.
• Keeping a record of people you meet, and how you met them, is vitally important. Even if someone doesn't seem to bear any relevance to you now, you may well need to contact them further on down the track.