Network Mistakes You Should Avoid

I stumbled upon an article that discusses Network Mistakes You Should Avoid. Here are a few good points that I wanted to share:

The benefits of building a strong professional network can never be overstated. Meeting new people in a business or social context works wonders for your career. It opens doors of opportunities for you as a job seeker or an employee looking to build a personal brand. But to make networking very much easier, you need to be aware of some mistakes people have made along the way. That way, you can avoid them and make networking a smooth and easy ride.

1. Starting Late

There is no wrong time to start building connections. The right time however, is NOW. If you are still in the university, you do not have to wait till you graduate before you start seeking for opportunities to meet like-minded people. Start small – from your course mates, lecturers, colleagues and group of friends. Attend seminars, workshops and other networking events. Use the internet and social media to your advantage too. Apps like LinkedIn have gone a long way in helping people build connections across various industries. In fact, connect with anybody you see as a future client, employer, or employee – and the good thing is that it can be everyone! You can start small and grow your connection as your career picks up instead of waiting for big shots in your industry to magically locate you.

2. Making Excuses Because You Feel Uncomfortable

This is the most common mistake people make when they are about to start networking. Making excuses leads to procrastination which indelibly means that you keep on putting off something as important as networking because you want to ‘play it safe’. Networking requires getting out of your comfort zone. Due to personal flaws or social hang-ups, most people shy away from meeting new people because they feel awkward or socially inept, are introverts, or the most popular one, do not know how to start and keep a conversation. Yeah, it is always scary and nerve wracking to meet someone new and introduce yourself to them. Practice makes perfect though. Prepare what you want to say and practice it before a networking event in front of a mirror or friend. Be confident. Make proper introductions and present yourself like an in-demand brand. Pitch yourself.

3. Not Knowing When to Move On

Networking is all about building professional relationships but the key is building useful ones. Not everyone you meet will be a good network. Some might be uninterested or respond outright in a rude way. Know when to politely excuse yourself and use the time to meet other valuable contacts. Adamantly continuing an uncomfortable conversation will likely bear no fruits and may make you seem desperate.

Want to know more? Head on over to the full article here for more ideas and perspective. Afterwards, why not drop me an email to share your thoughts at [email protected]; or call me on 0467 749 378.

Thanks,

Robert