“Networking” 

What do you think of when you hear “networking”?

Suits, shmoozing, and small talk over cold greasy small bites?

For you introverts out there (right there with ya!), you probably shudder when you hear the directive to network. But you just can’t escape it. You pull up any job advice column, listen to any speaker talk about killin’ the job search game, and inevitably “networking” will come up. 

You can even find it here from yours truly. In a blog post a few weeks ago, I wrote about how to cope with job loss. There were several suggestions that centered around prioritizing your emotional and mental health first. I ended with some beginning steps of the job search which included, you guessed it, networking.

The good news is this skill does not have to be the bane of your professional existence. Today, I’m demystifying this concept of networking and showing you that you definitely already have what it takes to network effectively. I’ll help build up your confidence to invest your time and energy into this important practice that will help you succeed in your job search and professional development. 

Did you know that you already hold the key to networking? That is, your existing relationships. Start with your existing relationships and work on slowly and intentionally building them out.

I wrote this before and it bears reminding: “You don’t have to start networking from scratch! Leverage your existing network. Don’t be afraid of accessing the relationships you have had over the course of your career.”

One of the dictionary definitions of “network” includes:

a group or system of interconnected people or things (Oxford Dictionary)

The operative term here is connections. 

Here are two strategies to succeed in networking aka building connections

1. Find the connections between the people or things you already know

2. Cultivate these connections by investing your time and attention in them  

Find the Connections Between the People or Things You Already Know 

Based on the job interests and skills you have and those you want to grow and get experience in, who are some people you know who are in those related industries and positions? 

Take some time to write down these names. Start off by contacting 1-2 people per week on your list. Don’t be shy about tapping into your existing contact. Schedule a brief 15-20 minute conversation or informational interview during a time that works for them. 

Once you’ve scheduled a time to talk to someone through a 1-1 conversation or at an event, what do you do? What do you say? This brings me to the second step in networking. 

Cultivate these connections by investing your time and attention in them

How would you usually build close personal relationships? Certainly your conversations with close friends and family don’t simply start and end with “what do you do?”. 

Instead, you cultivate these relationships by taking the time to really get to know them. And how do you get to know someone better? 

By asking good questions, extending offers to help where you can, and following up. 

Professional relationships should not be that different. Networking is basically the process of engaging in these same steps. 

Ask Good Thoughtful Questions 

Go in with genuine curiosity and a willingness to learn. Rather than just asking “What do you do?”, ask questions geared towards a person’s interests, passions, and hobbies. Adopt an attitude of curiosity.  

Prior to an informational interview, do some research and prepare relevant questions. It’ll make your informational interview that much more fruitful. 

Pro tip: Let one of the last questions you ask always be: “Do you know anyone else I should talk to?” 

This expands the networking circle and gives you a name to refer back to when you reach out to this new person (e.g. I got your name through so-and-so).

Offer others something of value 

Whether you’re attending a networking event or a 1-1 networking meeting, be ready to offer how you can help. Do not just go in gearing up to get what you want (like a job or a connection). Sure, that is what you want. And both of those things may be the by-product of this relationship. But it will show if your main priority from the outset is just to get something out of this person. 

How can you help them help you? Be prepared with a list of things you can offer. For example, offer some volunteer skills or some relevant ideas that may pique their interest in what you do and what you can offer them (either now or in the future). 

Follow up!

This is the part that a lot of people skimp on but the power of good regular follow-up is underestimated. Yes, send a thank you note not too long after you’ve spoken to someone. But don’t let it end there.

Make it explicit how you gained value from their expertise and time. If you make progress on your job search and professional development as a result of this relationship, be sure to let them know! People love to hear about the impact they have on others and there’s no better way than for you to verbally communicate that directly to them. 

If you’ve met someone at a networking event or social gathering, be sure to follow-up through something more than just a simple LinkedIn connect/follow request. Write a little message and remind them of your connection. Include something you learned about them and put a bug in their ear of how you can keep in touch. 

And if you’ve said “let’s keep in touch” - then do just that! Obviously do this within reason and don’t take this as license to stalk someone...but put in your due diligence in cultivating this relationship to the fullest extent you can. 

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Above All Else, Be Genuine

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to be genuine and authentic in your professional relationships and points of contact. Being a good human being who is interested in connecting with others is the best asset you’ve got. 

Networking doesn’t have to be this impersonal unapproachable thing. You have all the skills you need to effectively network. In other words, you simply need to re-orient your mind to take your social skills into your professional development. 

Resources on Informational Interviewing

https://hr.smcgov.org/informational-interviewing

https://hbr.org/2016/02/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-an-informational-interview

Have Questions?

Please e-mail me or leave me a comment if you have any questions about navigating “networking” or other parts of the professional development or job search process. I’m happy to be a resource who helps you reach your career goals!