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Unlocking success in the business world involves more than just a brilliant idea or a solid business plan. A crucial factor that can make or break your journey is networking.
Networking is a valuable skill that opens doors for business opportunities and meaningful connections. Whether you’re aiming for career advancement, starting your own business, or pursuing personal growth, networking serves as the key to reaching your goals.
This article will define what networking is; explore its significance, effective networking strategies for meaningful relationships, and offer tips and tricks to maximize your networking potential.
Professional networking is the process of building lasting connections with professionals in your field or other unrelated fields to exchange ideas, information, advice, and referrals. Networking can be done in the form of an industry-related event, a connection request on LinkedIn, or a quick chat with the new employee on lunch break. Networking can be done in-person or online, and the most common places for networking include:
If the thought of building meaningful connections through networking in the digital age is still intimidating, it’s time to shift your perspective. Networking is an invaluable resource that is often overlooked, but when approached correctly, it can be your most significant asset for career growth.
Here are three reasons why networking is crucial for your career:
Networking serves as a platform that connects you with industry leaders and opens up a new pathway to exchange ideas, information, knowledge, and experiences. Whether it’s asking for feedback, gaining tips for a job application, or discussing a social issue, networking expands your perspective about things you never gave much thought to. You might meet an individual from a field you’re planning to pursue; gaining insights and lessons that will help you pave your own path.
Regularly making appearances in professional and social gatherings helps you become a reliable asset to that particular network. Slowly and gradually, you can start to build a reputation as a knowledgeable, dependable, and supportive professional within your industry. This increased visibility can help you achieve your ultimate goal – catch the attention of recruiters within your network and highlight yourself as the ultimate choice for their organization.
According to Forbes, 80% of available jobs are never advertised. But what does this actually imply? This proves that applying effective networking strategies for meaningful relationships gives you coveted access to these 80% of job openings that are not advertised publicly but through referrals made by recruiters within a network.
Networking is a useful tool for everyone, but not every opportunity is worth pursuing. To maximize your networking efforts, focus on identifying the right events, timing, and people who can truly impact your business. Here are five proven tips for building meaningful connections through networking.
The best and foolproof way to tap into a network of professionals is by participating in industry-specific events. These business networking events are the ideal spot to practice your networking skills – here you can polish your skills, keep up with industry trends, and mingle with industry leaders and professionals. Follow these tips when you attend your next networking event:
Networking can never be successful if you expect to reap benefits from your network and not bring anything to the table in return. You can prove to be an important part of your network by referring a friend to a recruiter hiring in your network, sharing your research on companies, industries, and market trends with the network, putting your strengths on the table to help others and most importantly, consistently follow up on all your past and new connections.
Social media is brimming with digital profiles, and the key to standing out is to have a well-maintained and relevant profile across professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, Xing, and Meetup. Your social media presence is the equivalent of a handshake, becoming the very first impression that you will be leaving on your connections. Up-to-date digital profiles add credibility to your words, actions, and advice, which highlight you as an authentic industry professional. This authenticity deems you as a trustworthy source of relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information.
It can be challenging to maintain consistent contact with everyone in your network, and sometimes old contacts get lost in the sea of new ones. However, there’s no need to hesitate in reconnecting with old contacts, even if it’s been a while.
When reaching out, express genuine interest and honestly acknowledge that it has been a long time since you connected with them. This can help you move past the initial awkwardness. You can further strengthen the connection by sharing relevant content, extending congratulations on recent achievements, or seeking professional advice. Maintain the momentum by scheduling a casual coffee meeting. Once you have re-established the same meaningful relationship you had with them before, you can consider asking them for professional favors like a referral or a career opportunity.
After attending a networking event, a strategic follow-up with your new connections is an important step in relationship building. One of the most basic follow-up methods is to send an email saying that you enjoyed the conversation (it’s a plus point if you remember the key points of the conversation) and would like to connect further. It’s better to do your research on every connection that you plan to approach as it gives you some good starting points to begin the conversation.
It’s best not to delay the follow-up for more than two days as the energy from the first meeting might blow away. The best way to make your relationship meaningful is by helping your connection find something that they might have mentioned in the first meeting – it can be a referral, a recommendation, or some career advice, anything that can highlight your value and establish your reputation as a helpful and reliable person.
Remember, networking is a reciprocal relationship. Knowing your value and contributing to others’ success builds a mutually beneficial network. Stay on the lookout for ways that you can benefit your network, value your connections, and let these networking tips for meaningful connections propel your professional success. Cheers to building a network that not only opens doors but also fosters genuine and lasting connections!
With Apptree Staffing Solutions, your job search doesn’t require an extensive network. Discover a smarter way to connect with top-notch opportunities with us!
Phone: +1 734-532-4664
Email: info@apptree.com
Apptree Staffing Solutions
16490 Wahrman Rd.
Romulus, MI 48174
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