Are you overlooking the opportunity of networking? Part Two: Why should you network & Who should do it?

I am excited to dive right into the second part of my three-part series on Networking! If you read my first article, “Are you overlooking the opportunity of networking?” and learned what networking is, this article will add insight into why you should network.

Let’s be honest. Even the word “networking” has a daunting and negative connotation to it, especially if it is not “part of your job.” I am here to let you know it is something we all should be doing more of - that is right; ALL professionals – from salespeople to web developers. Now you are probably asking yourself, “But why do no I need to network? I have a good job where I already work 40-45 hours a week. I don’t have the time or energy to go chat with people who are not my family and friends.” While this is a fair statement and one I am sure many readers feel, let’s refer back to part one of this series and look at the different types of networking, and I will explain why they are essential.

External – as stated in my first article, this type of networking is most common. You walk into a room with a group of strangers and make small talk until the event is over. While sometimes these events seem less than ideal to attend, my experiences have led me to believe that you never know who you are going to meet. The saying, “It is not what you know, it is who you know,” many times holds. I may be biased, but this specific situation has more than once impacted my career. In my current role at Talavant, I am surrounded by co-workers who, because we met through networking, and kept in touch, we now work side by side and share ideas about growing a company and putting our best foot forward - a win/win for both sides of the networking equation. I get to be surrounded by smart, talented people and because of the connection they made with me, they were able to get a job at Talavant, even bypassing the traditional application process!

I encourage every professional, in every field, to get out there and shake hands MORE! As I have built my career in different WI markets, I have quickly realized it is a smaller world then we think. Everyone really is separated by just a few degrees and by getting out there, shaking hands, and making a good name for yourself – it is going to help grow your career, and your personal brand, in the long run!

Internal – I touched on its importance in my last article - as necessary as I think it is to network outside of your company, its also valuable to be visible and to know your internal team. Besides the fact that you often spend more time at work than at home, it is vital to build relationships internally and create a network of folks who may or may not be on your immediate team. The team at “Do Well Dress Well,” a blog about career and personal brand advice provides reasons supporting the value of networking internally in the following article: https://www.dowelldresswell.com/2016/08/25/networking-within-your-company/ . Themes that live in the referenced article is precisely why it is good to connect and build long-lasting relationships with the people you see every day!

Chances are, as a company grows or project work changes, you will have to interact beyond immediate teammates, so don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation at the water cooler or ask someone in a different department how their weekend was!

Personal – Last - do not be afraid to network professionally with your personal network! I used to feel funny talking about work, primarily since I’m in sales, and didn’t want to leave the impression that I was always trying to sell my service to family and friends. Once I got over that fear and started talking about it, mostly because I was excited about it and am passionate about the work we do, it allowed professional partnerships to flourish within my personal network and opportunities for me to do business with friends, also helping them! You don’t need to be a salesperson to talk about work and what you do at your next backyard cookout. You never know who could be listening and if that could lead to opportunities!

I’d like to end reminding EVERYONE to network. Reverse any negative association with it and look at the positive impacts that networking can bring to your life. Speaking from experience, many years of networking has not only led to tremendous career growth, but I have also met and made meaningful, amazing relationships along the way!

A Challenge for You

I want to encourage everyone to practice networking 1-2 times this upcoming week, either in a professional external/internal or personal setting! Also, if you’re looking for tips on the best ways to network - stay tuned for part three of this series in the months to come!