For recruiters and sales professionals, networking is a way of life. In the old days it used to be called “having a rolodex”, which means you have a copious phone book full of contacts to call when you need to use your network. Today, almost everything can be found online and it’s so much easier to nurture and grow your network…or is it?
Networking does not come naturally to some people. Perhaps you have worked at the same job with the same people for many years. Or maybe you only had one job after college, so your network is limited. If you are in the job market, how do you use and expand your network? Here are two modern techniques to grow your professional network:
- Forums and online groups – quite simply, there is an Internet group for almost every profession, industry and level of experience. Your job is to find one or two that fit YOU. Some suggested sites to search include Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Craigslist, and LinkedIn. Use keywords that describe the type of group you’d like to join and join the appropriate ones. However, if you don’t find one you like, create one! It’s free and you’d be surprised how many people have common work interests like you. Once you join the group. It is essential that you participate. No one will know who you are or what you’re looking for if you don’t participate in the conversations. Introduce yourself and communicate what you are looking for. Try posting a question to get feedback or provide feedback to someone’s post. Provide help in your experience and don’t be afraid to ASK for help.
- meeting groups – (www.meetups.com) Meetups are where people with a common interest schedule a time to meet in person. Almost every metropolitan area has a dedicated job search group. Some will invite you to the meeting where you can hand out business cards or a resume, or get in front of the group and let everyone know what kind of job you’re looking for. It is also preferable that you bring any tracks you have to share with the group, especially if they are not appropriate tracks for you. If there isn’t a specific job search group, try looking for a meetup group that is in your profession or industry. If you attend scheduled meetings and mix it up a bit, you’ll soon find new people to add to your network.
Two good practices to keep in mind when you are expanding your network are:
- Always provide more value than you receive – offer your services, expertise, suggestions, tips and resources to others and they will pay you back double!
- Follow up! – make sure that when you meet new people, you put them in your own “rolodex” and keep in touch with them, even after you get a job. Please continue to offer yourself as a connection as it will help you grow your network throughout your professional career. It will come in handy for that time in the future when you might be making another job change, or maybe you’re in the fortunate position of being able to hire someone for your team. Following up with new contacts will be mutually beneficial and is a good way to advance your career.
You don’t have to be a salesperson or recruiter to have a strong network. Finding others in your industry or profession is not only helpful for your career, but it’s also fun to meet people you have something in common with. Set a goal to meet at least two new contacts each week and watch your network and job search flourish.
