Networking is not only about trading information, but also serves as an avenue to create long-term relationships with mutual benefits. Continue reading to find out why networking should be at the core of your career.
Business people shaking hands in the office hallway
GettyThe importance of the saying “no man is an Island” has been proved to be the reason why many of us need to make a collective effort in the bid to achieve professional success. For many individuals that have succeeded in their career, the causes have largely been contributed to the strong networking channels they have created over time.
But the question of who you network with and their relevance to your career matters more. This way, you don’t have to network with everyone. Rather, first study how you can contribute to their success, in addition to how you stand to benefit from their knowledge.
Here are some reasons why networking should be an essential aspect if you truly want to build your career.
An avenue to exchange ideas
You never can tell how much you know without listening to other people. Success in a career is largely attributed to the pool of information or ideas you have garnered over the past. When networks have been created, it fosters a trade of ideas to sustain long-term relationships and mutual trust. When you are receiving ideas, it helps both in your place of work and out, in addition to instilling best practices that soothe your career.
It makes you noticeable
Individuals that seek publicity either for business, politics or even fame leverage more on networking. People quickly notice others that have stronger capabilities to make them relevant. When you stand out in both your expertise and the services you offer, it creates room for partnership which in turn builds a career. Many professionals have been able to understand how to nurture their networking strength and create more visibility for different associates and clients in their career path.
Avenue for newer opportunities
When people start noticing you, it opens the door for newer opportunities. Business and career-minded individuals who have networked over time have been able to expand with minimal effort because of the avenue of newer opportunities opened to them through networking. Opportunities like meeting the right clients or even meeting people that are superior to your career path could be a stepping stone that could change your life for the better.
Reassessing your qualification
Networking is one thing. But to be able to utilise it is another. You might think that your current level in your discipline might be the greatest height you could ever achieve. But have you ever taken an in-depth look at the different levels of your chosen career and how other people with similar positions have attained their present height? But let’s be very factual here; admiring certifications is allowed, but the roadmap to that height can be reached if only you have a strong network and a good relationship with others.
Improves your creative intellect
Aspirations and great innovations are most times form the external factors around where we find ourselves. The intellectual ability in different careers is significantly improved upon from contacts we have built with other persons over a period. Even a simple interaction with one person can transform a year-long research work and result in a breakthrough. Likeminded people that have been able to share ideas have strongly developed their intellect to foster growth in their career path and unleash the creative talent in them.
An extra resource library
Some websites are built specifically to address different questions under different niches. These avenues can be used by an individual as an extra source of information. The same thing applies to networking. A platform that is designed specifically aligned to your career can be an extra resource library for you. This provides you with updated information on the latest career trends relevant to you. This network resource also grants you access to tap into them whenever the need arises.
Support from high profiles individuals
Everybody has one way or the other passed through some hurdles in their career development. This can be as a result of the lack of materials available, or even the lack of financial aid. However, good networking with high profile individuals from the same career path can serve as support whenever there is any eventuality at any time. These high profile individuals can help you manage your challenges effectively by either giving you advice or linking you to the right financial support.
Growth in status
Developing your career status is a long-term process depending on how you focus on your networking path. Top career individuals that are where they are today is a result of the status they have grown in networking. The contacts you keep are largely attributed to your growth. They largely influence growth in your status and pave the way for better opportunities in your career. Your connections are powerful!
Growth in self-confidence
Networking is the key tool to growth in a resourceful career. Training and certification garnered from networking builds self-confidence and promotes self-esteem. The self-confidence that has been built over time can help put you on a positive spot whenever you interact with like minds in your career. This also gives you an opportunity to excel well during interview sessions for a job opportunity. So the more effectively you network, the more self-confidence you build over time.
Develop long-lasting relationships
If networking is a mutual relationship, then having a right networking channel can help build your career. Though networking might not be an easy and fast approach to building a long-lasting relationship. But making it a two-way process of giving and taking and can open the door for a firmer relationship. People that have made networking their sole priority have been able to build careers relevant to their set down goals.
In career development, networking is the process of building relationships with other people working in and around your field or industry. Unlike mentorship and sponsorship, these connections are typically mutually beneficial, with each person sharing resources, expertise, and information with the other, and tend to be more informal. Your network is essentially your set of professionally aligned friendships.
In this article, we’ll go into more detail about the benefits of networking, share some examples of what networking can look like, and offer tips on building your professional network.
Benefits of networking
Some commonly cited benefits of networking include:
Explore interests with like-minded individuals
Socialize with new people
Learn about new job opportunities
Receive job referrals
As such, networking has become an essential part of career development. People often rely on their network to exchange news and information about their field and socialize around industry-relevant topics more casually than they might in a standard work meeting.
For job seekers, networking can be a productive source of new opportunities. Some professionals estimate that 70 to 80 percent of job openings are not posted publicly [1]. Combined with the overwhelming number of applicants applying for publicly posted jobs, the traditional search-and-apply method of finding a new job has become increasingly ineffective.
Instead, people are turning to their professional network to tap into the “hidden job market”—the unpublished open roles—and ask for job referrals. One 2016 survey from LinkedIn found that almost 80 percent of people consider networking important to success, while 70 percent of new hires started a job at a company where they had a professional connection [2].
Some companies have a job referral program where current employees can formally recommend candidates for open roles. Applicants with a referral may experience some benefit during the application process. For example, perhaps their application will bypass the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) reader, or they’ll automatically receive an invitation to interview. If their contact is hired with the company, the person who initially referred the applicant may receive additional compensation.
Examples of networking
With the right people, you can turn any social experience into a networking opportunity. There are a range of networking approaches that can suit a variety of preferences and comfort levels. Some forms of networking include:
Attending group networking events
Attending an industry-related conference
Joining an online community
Participating in online forums
Meeting a new contact for coffee
Reaching out to a potential contact via email or on a social networking site
Asking a friend to introduce you to their contact
Staying in touch with a former coworker
Read more: How to Use LinkedIn: A Guide to Online Networking
Tips for successful networking
Networking is primarily a social experience, and socializing is generally meant to be fun. If you enjoy participating in and learning about your field, you can likely find a networking approach that fits your preferences.
In fact, your most fruitful connections may be those you enjoy engaging with since you’ll be more inclined to participate in those relationships actively. To create the best networking environment for you, start by pursuing the types of social settings where you feel most comfortable.
Here are some more tips as you begin to build your network.
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1. Get clear on your goals.
Before you embark on your networking journey, think about what you’d like to accomplish through networking. From there, determine the types of people who will best align with your goals, and consider what you might be able to offer them in return. With this type of clarity, you can better focus your efforts on building relationships that will more likely yield your desired outcomes.
Remember that, sometimes, your goal can be as simple as showing up. Particularly if you’re new to networking, honing the ability to show up is crucial to success. Some other networking goals may be:
Making new friends who work in your field
Learning about other people’s preferred processes and tools
Exploring a new or adjacent career path
Finding a new role
Gaining a position at a specific company
Advancing your career
Read more: What Are Your Career Goals? Tips for Setting Your Goals
2. Think about who you already know.
Engaging with people you already know can be an easy way to start or expand your networking efforts. You won’t have to worry about initiating the first contact, and you’ll likely already have some common topics ready to discuss.
Some people you already know who you may want to network with include:
Friends
Former or current classmates
Former or current coworkers
Past managers
Fellow club members
Volunteer organization colleagues
From there, you can also build out a list of potential second-degree contacts or people your contacts know who they may be willing to introduce you to.
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3. Consider open networks.
There are several open networks where people with similar interests can congregate to discuss industry-related topics, ask questions, and meet people. As you work toward expanding your network, research the types of open spaces where people in your field tend to come together.
When it comes to open networks, you’ll be able to find broadly defined spaces—such as young professionals networks or websites like LinkedIn—as well as niche groups—such as industry-specific forums, Slack communities, or meet-ups. To find the type of groups that fit your needs, ask your current contacts about networks they’ve joined, reach out to any alumni groups you belong to, do an online search, or follow industry leaders on social media.
4. Actively engage.
Just as crucial as showing up to that first meeting, it’s important to keep showing up. Building mutually beneficial relationships requires time and effort; it may also require persistence and disappointment.
Actively engage with your network and the network you’re building. Practice your interpersonal skills, and learn how to reach out to recruiters on LinkedIn and write a letter of introduction.
You may feel some discomfort as you pursue these new relationships and try new outreach methods. Start by showing up in ways that feel natural to you. Over time, you may feel more prepared to expand your social boundaries and grow toward new types of relationship-building.
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