Introduction
Social networking could be said to be the lifeblood of career advancement in any organization or corps in the current world economy. By no means it can be just a simple act as shaking a hand, exchanging interpersonal business cards or adding someone on your connection list in LinkedIn.
Besides, it opens new opportunities to establish new contacts, find a mentor or partnership, and improve one’s professional contacts list. Networking competency helps place a professional in key locations in his or her field whereby once you land there, the competitive and perhaps, superior hard skills come in handy.
Why It’s Good to Grow Your Professional Circle
Build your strong professional network because that’s the source for knowledge, resources and referrals. Building new contacts also means always knowing the latest news, gaining an understanding of insider information, and finding out that there are more jobs than those posted on job boards.
Avoid sticking to friends from your own industry as well as rely on a number of people of different levels of expertise in order to have proper support.
Social Media Networking: In Today’s Global Perspective
Business related connections, especially on LinkedIn, are vital in social media. Design smart curriculum vitae in order to demonstrate the scope of your abilities, successes and goals. Contribute content material related to industry and interact with the post of people. Regular action gradually creates awareness of your knowledge and availability to employers and partners.
Social networking and making contacts – Building a Personal Brand
It makes you stand out from the crowd because it is easy to associated yourself with a certain brand. This one is quite important to have clear and unique selling proposition and to have it written down in your CV, in your LinkedIn profile, everywhere. Only pretenders claim to be someone they’re not; avoid fake followers and friends by presenting the real you and real abilities your brand represents.
Explaining How to Initiate and Sustain Networking Relationships
Creating a connection is good, but sustaining it is also equally crucial. Always ensure to after any meeting format by sending a thank you message or email.
You can occasionally reach out to your contacts asking how they are, and giving them some information that may be useful, or help needed. Showing true concern maintains the activity level of your contacts and helps them to develop the trust you need from them.
Networking During the COVID-19 and Other Virtual Opportunities
The COVID 19 pandemic has seen the introduction to virtual networking which essentially is work networking but happens virtually. Watch all webinars, post on forums and join social media groups of your respective industry.
Actually, use video calls to have even more personal interactions. Virtual networking is just as professional as networking in person; it just needs as much preparation.
Why Continuing to Utilize Mentors and Advocates in Your Network Matters
Having a mentor and having someone to advocate for you are very important at some stage in your career. Consult and listen to the best practiced individuals with helpful suggestions and knowledge to impart.
Referees in your field of specialization can refer you to jobs hence making you more popular within your market.
Network blunders that should be averted
It is important not to overdo it, don’t just talk about yourself the entire time, don’t forget to listen and finally do not forget to follow up. Networking is a mutual process, but first, demonstrate that you are interested in hearing their stories and, where possible, help them.
No messages sent to all contacts should be irrelevant or no professional manner of communicating should be violated.
Evaluating Outcomes of Your Networking Endeavours
Ability to measure – By regularly reviewing your networking experience you should be in a position to rate your networking efforts based on the quality of connections developed and chances created.
Report all the related activities of referral, job invitation or cooperation that originated from the network. This strategy should be revised from time to time because your career goal and progression do evolve over some time.
Conclusion
Network has been categorically recognized as a strong and reliable mechanism for career mobility. In essence, reaching out and getting to know your audience and people from or in your desired industry or field creates more opportunities for your advancement in that field.
When we say networking we want everyone to take note that this is a process that takes time, energy and commitment to make work.
