How Networking changed and continues to change my life.

As an Accounting graduate from South Africa, the move into Digital Marketing and to Toronto was anything but smooth sailing. Moving to another country is a trial on its own. So, to do it alone, in a country where I didn't know a soul, on the opposite side of the world, and in the middle of a pandemic, is something that I count on my list of triumphs.

This move was not easy but what it taught me above all else was how to network. You had best believe that arriving in a strange country where you don’t know a single person, pushes you to change that very quickly. So, I networked, and I connected with people anywhere I could. I started up conversations with strangers while waiting at the concierge of my building, in grocery store aisles, and with people on the street. I met up with friends of friends of friends, and I made plans to meet fellow students whom I had only ever interacted with online.

Networking allowed me to build a new life and fill it with brilliant people I would otherwise never have met. Before I truly started my professional networking journey, I already knew that networking could change my life. As I started to reflect on what I got out of the Marketing Seminar series at George Brown, I started thinking about what I would want to impart to those that come after me. What advice could I share? What part of my networking journey could the next student learn from that could change their life?

These are tips and tricks I would share. This is what I would say;

Networking is nothing without WORK and being proactive means taking your life into your own hands. Taking initiative will help you get organized, stay on track, and see results.

Don’t wait for the second semester to start looking for your co-op. Start making connections and putting your feelers out from the get-go.

• Update your LinkedIn profile to “Open to work” and set up job alerts to notify you when new positions become available.
• ?Every interaction with someone is an opportunity to network. Share your journey and interest in pursuing a position in Digital Marketing with everyone you meet, you never know who may be able to help make an introduction, point you in the right direction, or open a door.
• Have your Cover letter and resume template up to date.
• Post on social media and make sure that you are on relevant platforms. Being active on these apps will ensure that you know how they work and how to optimize them - Alex Wedderburn (Senior Enterprise Account Director at Hootsuite)
• Find and attend webinars and events online.
• Ask what value you can add to a potential employer. In an online seminar by M2T, I received advice that changed the way that I approached networking. Jed Schneiderman (SVP of Kognitiv Corp) shared that to get noticed you must do what others aren’t doing. Go the extra mile and show up without the expectation of receiving anything in return. If you want to make an impression, the next time that you reach out to make a connection on LinkedIn, don’t ask for something, ask” Is there something that I can do to help you.”

Being prepared is important for your interview, but it is also key long before that. Managers and connections you find on LinkedIn receive dozens of messages from eager students. So why should they take an interest in you?

Take the time to formulate an introduction that shows this person that you have done your homework. Human beings connect moreover shared interests, experiences, or connections than anything else. So, make it personal, do your research and find common ground. Out of a sea of LinkedIn requests, asking a question or opening with something you learned about that person through your research will help to set you apart and make you memorable. ?

One of the things that stuck with me through the Digital Marketing seminar series was something shared by Caroline Berryman (Manager of Communications, Community Engagement & Marketing of the York Region). That you shouldn’t shy away from opportunities that put you out of your comfort zone, because stretching yourself to your limits is when you show yourself what you are truly capable of.

The Marketing Seminar series was a networking opportunity that helped me immensely to make an impact and make connections. Optimize this experience, you most likely won’t get an opportunity like this again.

1. Reach out to the speakers before their seminars.

This way when you connect with them at the seminar they already have your name at the back of their mind.

2. Set yourself apart.

Don’t sit at the back or have your camera off and stay silent. Have questions prepared, put on your camera, or sit at the front of the class. Stay engaged and ask questions. Many of the speakers have positions open at their companies and this seminar is your first unofficial interview. Make sure that when that person leaves the seminar that they know exactly who you are when your job application arrives on their desk.

?3. Show your gratitude.

If you haven’t already left an impression, the third time is the charm. Just like after any interview, thank your new connection for sharing their time and expertise with you. Above that shape a new conversation and extend your interaction by elaborating on a question you asked or touching on the most valuable takeaway you received.

Do this and you will be on your way from a beginner to networking level expert. Showing that you didn’t just show up, you stepped up and stood out.

In today’s world, it’s no longer how much you know but how much you can offer. Things that you can bring to a company that goes beyond your education, experience, and skills. Employers are weighing soft skills equally with the hard, and they want to know that you are a good fit for their company culture. That who you are will benefit their company, just as much as what you know. In a webinar I attended with Diana Luu (the Senior Director of LinkedIn’s Marketing Solutions), she shared invaluable advice about how to stand out from the crowd. Sharing that it is the people who have a point of view, show courage in their convictions, and lead with passion that truly make an impact.

Networking continues to change my life, helping me to integrate myself into a whole new industry and community on the opposite side of the world to everything and everyone I know. I had to completely start over when my feet hit Canadian soil and without networking and some courage I truly wouldn't be where I am today.

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