Networking is something many of us fear, but it's invaluable for making contacts and creating opportunities in the world of work. It can be daunting for some but we have put together some helpful tips to aid with your networking efforts!
Start With People You Know
When building your network up, it is always best to start with people you know. These will be family, friends, former colleagues and even former employers. They can help you expand and maybe introduce to new contacts who could help you.
Target Companies or Leading Professionals
When you going to start your networking, it is always a good idea to try and network with companies you wish to work for or important professionals who could help aid your job search efforts. You can do this through various means e.g. face to face, social media, emails or phone.
Be Yourself
When networking, people want to see the real you not an act you put on. Personality counts when networking as it can help you not only get to know someone but help build and develop relationships. Being yourself pays off better.
Make Good First Impression
As in interviews, first impressions count when networking. People and companies will make a quick impression based on first interactions. Bad impressions can hurt not only your networking efforts but also your reputation.
Let Your Network Know What You Want
It no good developing a network to help you if you don't tell them what you want. You need to have pitch about yourself for when you introduce yourself so new potential contacts know what you are about e.g. job seeker.
Follow Up
Whenever you make new contacts in your network group, it is important to follow up that initial contact through which ever method was agreed on. Not following up can cost you a potential new contact that could help you.
Keep In Touch
To develop and maintain a good network to help you, it's important to keep in contact in them. Keep them informed of what is happening to you especially any changes. If they are not aware of what is going on with you how are they suppose to help.
Use Social Media
Social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ etc are all good tools to help you not only make new contacts but to keep in contact with them. If you're not using any of the social media apps then it could hurt your networking efforts.
Face to Face
Don't just do all your networking via social media, emails and phone calls. Get out and meet people face to face. Sometimes meeting people in contact can be more beneficial. Attending job fairs too is a good method to meet new potential contacts face to face.
Help Others
Don't be a selfish networker as it will only damage not your network but also your reputation. If you can help someone in your network then do it. By helping you showing that your kind and generous and it will enhance your reputation which in turn will help you develop your network.
Start With People You Know
When building your network up, it is always best to start with people you know. These will be family, friends, former colleagues and even former employers. They can help you expand and maybe introduce to new contacts who could help you.
Target Companies or Leading Professionals
When you going to start your networking, it is always a good idea to try and network with companies you wish to work for or important professionals who could help aid your job search efforts. You can do this through various means e.g. face to face, social media, emails or phone.
Be Yourself
When networking, people want to see the real you not an act you put on. Personality counts when networking as it can help you not only get to know someone but help build and develop relationships. Being yourself pays off better.
Make Good First Impression
As in interviews, first impressions count when networking. People and companies will make a quick impression based on first interactions. Bad impressions can hurt not only your networking efforts but also your reputation.
Let Your Network Know What You Want
It no good developing a network to help you if you don't tell them what you want. You need to have pitch about yourself for when you introduce yourself so new potential contacts know what you are about e.g. job seeker.
Follow Up
Whenever you make new contacts in your network group, it is important to follow up that initial contact through which ever method was agreed on. Not following up can cost you a potential new contact that could help you.
Keep In Touch
To develop and maintain a good network to help you, it's important to keep in contact in them. Keep them informed of what is happening to you especially any changes. If they are not aware of what is going on with you how are they suppose to help.
Use Social Media
Social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ etc are all good tools to help you not only make new contacts but to keep in contact with them. If you're not using any of the social media apps then it could hurt your networking efforts.
Face to Face
Don't just do all your networking via social media, emails and phone calls. Get out and meet people face to face. Sometimes meeting people in contact can be more beneficial. Attending job fairs too is a good method to meet new potential contacts face to face.
Help Others
Don't be a selfish networker as it will only damage not your network but also your reputation. If you can help someone in your network then do it. By helping you showing that your kind and generous and it will enhance your reputation which in turn will help you develop your network.