As we work, honing our skills and becoming better at them, there is a sublime motivating force that we sometimes seem to forget about. The people around us. These could be colleagues we admire, managers who mentor us, peers in our field, and sometimes even people we may want to work with. Networking and cultivating valuable professional relationships can enrich a career in countless ways. How do you build your professional network, you ask? Here are some quick tips to help you get started.
What can you expect from this article?
- The benefits of professional networking
- The qualities of a good networker
- 5 essential tips on how to network effectively
Table of Contents
Why is professional networking important?
Some of us are naturally adept at networking, while some of us tend to be more reserved about socializing in professional spaces. The thing is, though, networking is not about the number of people you meet. It’s about building a genuine connection with people who share your professional goals or can guide you towards them. These are peers, mentors, seniors, and professionals from other fields. Maybe even people you may mentor!
Think of it this way: you’re building your professional support system by interacting with people, and you’re expanding your understanding of your domain. You’re exchanging ideas, processes, and ways to make the work landscape better. If you make connections in spaces you want to work in, these folks can even help you get a leg up on your next job application!
If you’re looking to make a career transition, networking plays a role there too. For a fascinating insight, check out our podcast JobTok, where our friend Vivi (General Manager, GrabFood Indonesia) tells us her story of overcoming a non-tech background to become a tech company GM.
5 Essential Professional Networking Tips
A professional network is crucial for your career in a number of ways. Even if networking may not come to you naturally, the key is to find your pace and comfort with it. Here are some tips that will help you grow your professional network.
- Update your LinkedIn profile
- Keep up with industry trends and news
- Join networking groups or forums
- Ask questions, listen, and learn
- Stay in touch with your connections
Update Your LinkedIn Profile
In the digital age, social media platforms are fantastic spaces to find like-minded people. For professionals, this (without a doubt) means networking on LinkedIn. By including your work experience, skills, and other information, you must make your LinkedIn profile worthwhile.
Pay particular attention to your bio and header as well. Try to craft them in such a way that is reflective of your career path and your goals. When someone who’s received a connection request from you takes a look at your profile, they should get a sense of who they’re about to connect with.
Looking for potential connections on LinkedIn is also quite easy since it allows you to search for people by profession, industry, or even company! You can use these filters to look for mentors and industry leaders in your field.
Keep Up With Industry Trends And News
Keeping up with the general happenings and trends within your industry is probably something you’re doing anyway. But the reason keeping up with news makes you a better networker is that you get to present yourself as someone who is keen on understanding your work and learning more.
These are also great conversation starters: you build a rapport with your connections when you discuss topics important to your profession. Being up to date with news also helps you identify industry leaders and other key players you may want to connect with at some point.
Join Networking Groups or Forums
One of the most effective ways to grow your professional network is to join networking groups and forums. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people, but also meet people who you may not have expected to bond with. Diverse groups of people also have diverse ideas, and it’s quite interesting in such an environment. It might even challenge you intellectually!
So look for a networking group in your city or try to find one online. Before you join a group, do some cursory research about the organization, the people involved, and its philosophy. This will help you understand if the group aligns with your professional goals and is a good fit for you.
Want to know more about how joining a professional networking group could benefit your career? Head over to our podcast JobTok, where Letitia Ng tells us about maximizing value from networking groups.
Ask Questions, Listen, And Learn
A good networker is inquisitive, patient, and knows how to listen. Approach your connections with an open mind: there’s always something to learn from the person in front of you. Think about why you wanted to connect with them in the first place and start from there.
Show that you’re curious about their work by asking questions about how they got started, what keeps them going, and what excites them about their work. Give them space to open up, then keep the conversation going. This will also allow you to talk about your work, explore what you have in common, and see where the relationship can go.
Stay in touch with your connections
Just like any other human relationship, building a relationship with your professional networks takes time and effort. It could take weeks, months, or even years before your efforts finally pay off! But the trick is to be consistent in your interactions with them.
If your connection is someone you see regularly — like a peer or a manager —- then it’s relatively easier. If your connection is at a different workplace or lives in another city, then you can set up regular virtual meetings or coffee sessions.
Some final words: Don’t be nervous!
If you’re not much of an extrovert and networking doesn’t come to you naturally, that’s absolutely fine too. This is not a competition —- it’s quite easy to lose track of that sometimes. Do it on your own terms, take it one step at a time. If you feel overwhelmed by the pressures of networking, try to think about it as you make a friend.
Focus on getting to know the person, and establish a sense of comfort with each other. The work aspect of it can take a backseat, for the time being. Hopefully, over time, you’ll see the fruits of the work you’ve put in and build connections that you’re truly comfortable with.
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