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“It’s who you know.” In an era where so many job board sites are being flooded with fake A.I. applications and competition is fierce for the real good jobs, making personal connections in your professional life is more important than ever. If you’re thinking of pivoting into a new career or are planning to get back into the job market to move forward on your current trajectory, having a strong network on your side can make a huge difference.
Don’t worry if you’re not a “people person”: there are simple things you can do to help put others at ease. You will have to step out of your comfort zone a bit but if you follow these networking strategies the connections you can make will be worth the discomfort you feel from all those butterflies fluttering in your stomach.
Pre-Game Your Networking
It’s important to stretch and warm-up your muscles before a workout; the same can be said for your social muscles. If you’re going to a networking event after a busy day of work or relaxing at home, it can be hard to switch gears and put on a professional yet approachable face. Arrange a quick hang-out with a friend or a co-worker/mentor you have a good rapport with right beforehand. A half hour coffee chat can be a great way to get yourself in a conversational, socializing mood. Walking into a networking event or conference with that chatty energy already activated can help you make a good first impression.
If you’re going to a more structured networking function, you can also pre-game by practicing your “elevator pitch” with a friend. Practice how you’d introduce yourself. Think of the kinds of topics you’d talk about at these events and “rehearse” these conversations with a trusted confidant. When networking, you have to walk a fine line between being prepared and being TOO polished. If you sound rehearsed, it comes across as being inauthentic and trying-too-hard. Talking to a friend helps you figure out what you want to say; how you say it in the moment is what you’ll figure out when you’re networking for real.
“If possible, you might want to research who will be attending the event and identify key people you would like to meet,” said Gina Pinch, Rio Salado College Faculty Chair for Business, Management, and Public Administration. “You might also have a colleague who could attend a networking event with you if you are nervous to go alone.”
Know What You Bring to the Table
It can be easy to think of networking as a “what’s in it for me” proposition. You’re trying to make connections that can advance YOUR career, right? That’s the wrong attitude to have going in: like any healthy relationship, mutual gain should be the goal. A strong network is one where you can also offer value and support to the people helping you. It’s not like a mentorship/mentee relationship; networks are more reciprocal. That “what’s in it for me” cuts both ways.
Before you network, think about what you can contribute. What skills, knowledge, or existing connections can you leverage? How can you help others? Being able to answer these questions will also make it easier for you to pitch yourself and articulate who you are as a professional. Be prepared to write letters of recommendation and be references for other people if they need your help.
On a related note: don’t take your network for granted. If someone in your network helps you, show your gratitude. Stay connected with people. Even little gestures like reaching out to people on their birthdays or doing the occasional lunch together can strengthen these connections. Doing this kind of social maintenance is good because it reminds your network that you exist; if someone in your network hasn’t heard from you in awhile they may not think you still need their help. It can also make reconnecting with someone in your network after years of silence because you need a favor feel awkward and inauthentic because you haven’t done the work to maintain that relationship.
Stand On Common Ground
Finding common interests professionally at networking events shouldn’t be too difficult. Many networking events tend to be geared around specific industries, generational cohorts, or professional associations, so there should be some easy common ground to establish during these kinds of gatherings. The key here is to go deeper. What professional goals do you share? What passions for your work do you have in common?
What can be even more effective is to use small talk to find common interests that are NOT rooted in your professional interests. What hobbies, sports, or other interests do they have? There’s a reason why golf is such a popular pursuit for people in business. It’s a non-professional thing they can bond over, organize social gatherings around, and offer enough downtime to organically have networking conversations. Maybe the person you’re trying to network shares your passion for movies. Perhaps they’re a fellow foodie who wants to hear your recommendations for a good Thai restaurant in the area.
You don’t want these “extracurricular” topics to dominate the conversation, but they can be a great way to warm-up and put people at ease before taking the discussion into deeper waters. It’s also important to be sincere about common interests. You don’t want to feign an interest in something because there’s always a chance the other person may unwittingly call your bluff.
Focus On Learning
One way to take pressure off of you if you’re feeling anxious about networking is to look at it as a learning opportunity. Don’t think of it as a social activity where you’re trying to win people over; that may put you in a fear-of-rejection state of mind. Look at networking as a way to learn more about yourself, the professional world you’re operating in, and what opportunities can be available to you. An open mind and a curious attitude will take you far in these kinds of situations.
“If small talk feels intimidating to you, you might want to plan a few open-ended questions you can ask,” Pinch said. “For example, ‘what is something you are excited about in your work currently?’”
Networking can also be an opportunity for skill development. If you feel like you’re bad at communicating, networking presents an avenue for practicing your soft skills. Skills like collaboration, public speaking, improvisation, negotiation, and cultivating leadership can be practiced and enhanced through networking.
Article by Austin Brietta
Career Corner
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