Essential Tips for Networking
I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to share an article I read about tips for networking. Here are a few highlights:
If you’re searching for a new job, or trying to build connections with other professionals in your field, networking can help open the door to career-boosting opportunities. However, for most people, approaching a stranger you admire can feel uncomfortable or intimidating. Our advice? Don’t let this stop you from putting yourself out there! Like everything, there’s a strategy to networking in a meaningful way to help you?forge deeper professional relationships and grow your career.
“The key is building an authentic relationship,” says Valerie Gard, “Networking should be organic.” ?
The most important thing to remember as you work on your networking skills is that the connections you make should be mutually beneficial. Develop a relationship that goes beyond business needs, find commonalities or shared interests. Networking is just like building any other type of relationship, don’t let the word “networking” intimidate you! The best professional, and personal, relationships are built on shared passions, interests, or backgrounds. Seek out connections that you are genuinely interested in meeting. Don’t overthink it – look for commonalities and allow your relationship the time it needs to grow organically.
Networking isn’t a numbers game. You could have over 1,000 connections on LinkedIn but still be stuck when it comes to finding new opportunities.
"You may get coffee with 10 people and make no progress, but at that 11th coffee you might make the connection you’ve been searching for the entire time,” says Gard. “Those 10 coffees weren’t a waste though because you now have deeper relationships with 10 more people, and maybe one of those connections will actually be able to provide an opportunity down the line.”
领英推荐
Before reaching out to someone, whether it be online or in person, have a good idea of what you’re going to say. You should have your elevator pitch ready to go—this is a short personal statement that explains who you are and what you do in a concise and engaging way.
“Consider what makes you different,” says Gard. “Who are you? What are you great at? What are you looking to achieve?” ?
It also helps?to do some research on the person you’re speaking to so you can bring up something in their background that interested you. If you aren’t able to do that, try to find a common professional interest to discuss. Set aside time prior to your meeting to think about this so that you can feel confident in the moment and allow for a natural conversation.
Want to know more? Head on over to the full article here for more ideas and perspectives. Afterwards, why not drop me an email to share your thoughts at [email protected] ; or call me on 0467 749 378.
Thanks,
Robert