The Importance of Career Networking: How Networking Can Improve Your Career Options

Mention the word “networking” to a group of colleagues and you will receive a variety of responses. Time-consuming, awkward, cocktail-laden gatherings in loud restaurants or even more uncomfortable, quarterly company meetings where attendees are lined up to kiss the ring of the boss praying he will simply remember their name! Let’s face it, after a hard day of work, these functions are at the bottom of your “to-do” list.

A learned talent, properly executed networking is powerful and can influence every stage of your career, so the best time to network is before you need a job or plan a career change. It allows you to connect to many people while investigating all available job leads.

Networking is not merely small-talk. It’s not politic-ing, brown-nosing, or begging for favors. Genuine networking is purposefully seeking out, establishing, and nurturing long-established, mutually beneficial relationships with people you meet almost anywhere. And anywhere can be coffee shops, parties, little league games, or your alma mater functions. Office networking occurs throughout the building, not just the water cooler! Wherever your interests lie, there can be networking opportunities.

Everyone networks differently. Some people enjoy networking groups or functions and others prefer one-on-one meetings. Either way, networking helps develop your conversation skills especially for the shy person. It pushes you outside your comfort zone to speak to strangers. Good conversation skills are an asset you can use your entire life and a crucial part of proper networking!

Networking keeps you on top of your game by improving your industry specific skills, through the sharing of information regarding industry trends as well as the direction of the job market. Exposing yourself to different networking experiences can only enhance your chances of making an important contact that may lead to a job. You will meet new people, clients, partners, and advisors. Amongst the crowd, you may even find the mentor you’ve been seeking.

Organizations now tend to neglect employee career development. Human Resources continue to evaluate employees through various assessment methods and reviews while employees complain that they aren’t being developed. This disconnect is further exacerbated by the company’s pressure to meet business goals, leaving the organization lacking when it comes to allotting time and funding for advancing employee careers. In his book, “The Right (and Wrong) Stuff: How Brilliant Careers Are Made”, Carter Cast refers to “the era of do-it-yourself career development.” He further explains, “in today’s workforce, the burden is on you to take control of your career development.”

Here are 8 tools to increase your networking proficiency:

1. Put on your smile. The natural one, not the creepy “trying-too-hard” Michael Scott smile. Be natural and shake hands. (Not the ole’ dead fish handshake either!)

2. Have a 30 words or less introduction of who you are and why you are an asset to any organization. What exactly do you offer?

3. Listen more than you speak. Most people don’t listen well at all. People like to talk about themselves and appreciate someone who remembers what they have said. Being a good listener is an excellent way to make a good impression.

4. Although you may be looking for job leads, don’t present yourself as a desperate job seeker.  That desperation is a negative aura that surrounds you and gives off negativity. You want to be seen as a professional seeking contacts and pertinent information.

5. Follow up with the people you’ve connected with. This is very important. Afterall, professional relationships cannot be nurtured and developed if you don’t reconnect. Send a short message and request a LinkedIn connection. Do not stalk people you know have information you want! If they aren’t responding to your request for connection, phone calls or emails, touch base a couple of times. If they continue to ignore you, that door may have closed, so just move on.

6. A large percentage of jobs are not published. Networking is a highly effective path to a job. Referrals count and are very powerful. The Careerxroads 2014 Source of Hire Report notes, “A job seeker who is referred is conservatively three to four times more likely to be hired than someone who applies for a position without a referral.” Be sure to ask for a referral if the situation presents itself. Most, if not all, companies have some type of compensation for referrals. If an employee refers someone who gets hired, then that employee will be recognized and compensated.

7. Always look for opportunities to assist those you have connected with. Send them one of your contacts who would benefit from their services or someone who can help them. Pay it forward as much as possible. Sooner or later, you will reap those benefits.

8. Be persistent in your efforts. Don’t give up. Finding a job is difficult and may take some time.  Adjust your methods of networking as needed and be flexible.

Networking is essential to career development and a wonderful tool to have in your job hunt portfolio. The evolution of your life-long career will benefit mightily. Experiences you gain in and out of your current office circumstance contributes to your lifelong body of work. So spread your wings and network! The conversations can only lead to more knowledge - and that’s always a good thing.

I offer a free ½ hour introductory job interview coaching session. Contact me today to prepare for your tomorrow!