Your career is like a plant. It requires attention to grow and proximity to other plants can help it thrive. So, while you feed your career by learning new skills, why not work on your networking skills to pollinate your life with new ideas?
What is networking?
Professional networking is about relationship-building. You build relationships with like-minded professionals and benefit from the exchange of information from these connections. It can have long-lasting effects on your professional life, even beyond helping you find your next job. Learning from other professionals who share your interests is a valuable way to expand your knowledge base, learn best practices, keep up to date with industry news, and expand your social circle.
Before we get into all the best networking tips for 2020, let’s look at how networking can help with your next job.
Some people may hear “networking” and think it’s only useful when looking for a new job. Hopefully we’ve convinced you that that’s not the case, however, we don’t want to understate how important networking is to your job search. Determining the number of jobs obtained through networking can be difficult, but estimates are in the 70 to 85% range. Needless to say, networking can have a huge impact on your next job.
However, it’s important to remember that networking may not lead to a job right away. Expanding your network by nurturing mutually beneficial relationships lays the groundwork for exposure to job opportunities from your contacts. Focus on building the relationship and contributing to the discussion, so that your contacts will think of you the next time they hear of an opportunity.
How to network virtually
Efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 have had far-reaching effects, and networking is no exception. With many conferences moving to an online model, you may think that you should put networking activities on hold. Our biggest professional networking tip is don’t do it! While networking may look different when it’s done from your home, it’s still an important part of your professional development. Plus, this may be the ideal time to network because everyone else is also at home and likely online more often.
So, let’s take a look at the top 6 tips for virtual networking that you can use to expand your network and find your dream job.
Virtual Networking Tip #1: Start with a (general) plan
Much like the prep work that goes into creating your resume, networking is most effective when you start with a clear purpose. So, spend some time at the outset figuring out what you want to accomplish. Doing so will also help inform the steps you should take to get there. If you’re looking for a new job, polishing your LinkedIn profile and pursuing informational interviews with your contacts might be on your to do list. If you want to learn new skills, it might make sense for you to focus on engaging with thought leaders and diversifying your network to include a wider variety of expertise. And if you’re an entrepreneur looking to make business contacts, developing your elevator pitch and engaging with potential partners might be your best bet. We’ll take a look at each of these tactics in the rest of the article, but first, you need to get your profile ready.
Virtual Networking Tip #2: Prep your profile
Think of LinkedIn as your hub while networking virtually. It presents a valuable way to demonstrate your interests and the work you’ve put into your professional development. Start by aligning your LinkedIn profile with your personal brand. Creating a seamless profile that highlights your interests and capabilities — and that puts it all right up front in the “About” section — can help potential contacts get to know you without you having to do anything! Plus, with other sections of your profile, you can show off your accomplishments, demonstrate your work experience, and present a constantly updating list of participation in your field through comments and posts.
Creating a detailed and up-to-date LinkedIn profile is an important first step in your online virtual networking journey. Because the next step is to use LinkedIn’s social networking features to meet new people, discover new groups and associations that share your interests, and stay in touch with your contacts. Once you feel proud to direct people to your LinkedIn profile, get started expanding your network!
Virtual Networking Tip #3: Plan to expand your network
After you’ve figured out what you want to get out of networking, start researching! Find the people who can help you reach your goals. You may do this by joining or renewing your membership in a relevant association, signing up for networking sites like Ten Thousand Coffees or looking for online events through Meetup. Look to trade or special interest publications to get a sense of the conversations in that specific area and the people who are driving the discussion.
You should also consider how concentrated your network is when it comes to areas of interest. Are all your contacts in the same field as you? Is everyone at the same level? Networking is not about creating an echo chamber; its value is in giving you the resources to fill in gaps in your knowledge. To that end, seek out new contacts across industries or levels to gain new perspectives that can help you succeed.
Virtual Networking Tip #4: Find the right people to target
Remember: developing relationships is at the core of networking. If you’re at the very beginning of your journey, an important networking tip for beginners is to start with who you know. Look for active users of LinkedIn in your contact list and engage. You can start with a simple “thinking of you” message to check-in. That’s not the advice in a normal situation, but the pandemic has changed many of our work lives, and a thoughtful catch-up message may be appreciated during these times. Beyond that, look for ways to engage with the work that they’re sharing on LinkedIn by commenting on their posts.
Next, look to your current relationships for guidance, new avenues of exploration and introduction to new contacts. Ask trusted colleagues and mentors who else you should include in your network. Perhaps they can set up an introduction for you, or they can invite you to an online networking event that interests you.
When approaching new contacts, remember that the relationship you’re trying to build should be mutually beneficial. It’s not about selling yourself or your product to other people, it’s about building lasting relationships with your contacts and exchanging information. Just as in an in-person conversation, consider how your online interactions come across. Whether it’s an email introduction, comment on LinkedIn post or participation in a video call, don’t monopolize the conversation!
Virtual Networking Tip #5: Engage!
While you can’t meet in-person right now, there are many other ways to reach out. With many virtual networking events happening right now, you can still get the conference or meet up feel without leaving your home. Just remember to prepare your workspace and tech set-up ahead of time so that you get the full experience.
It’s also a great time to pursue informational interviews with individuals in your field who can provide insight into their role, company and industry at large. Identify someone who can offer this inside information and set up a meeting. Prepare as if it were a real interview and be prepared to lead the discussion while you ask questions about their path, the organization they work for, and what the job is really like.
Lastly, don’t forget to keep up with information-sharing. Remember: at its core, networking involves the exchange of information. So, continue to participate in online discussions. Find forums that interest you and share best practices. This is a big networking tip for introverts: take full advantage of online forums and posting. It’s a great way to engage with people and content while having the ability to step back and respond on your own time.
Virtual Networking Tip #6: Follow up and keep at it
In-person networking etiquette still applies: ask to stay in touch and thank people for their time. Following up after an informational interview or other on-on-one experience is both necessary and simple; send a timely, friendly message that is substantive enough to demonstrate that you remember the conversation but brief enough to encourage a response. Otherwise, gather contact information after networking events and always remember to follow through on promises to connect contacts or send over information.
Networking is not about asking people for a job. If you are looking for a job, it’s about finding the right people who can help you when the time comes: by referring you, putting you in contact with interested parties, or by guiding your search. Likewise, it’s not about selling things to your contacts. Focus on creating lasting relationships and success will follow.