Growing your Professional Network

Recently I have attended a few University hosted networking events and the most common questions I get asked, is how to I grow my network without appearing needy. Well here are six tips to help you succeed in growing an authentic network that will support you throughout your career.

START CLOSE TO HOME

You’re surrounded by opportunities to practice your networking skills and make new contacts. Look for leads among those you interact with daily, including coworkers or other job seekers. Be authentic in your interactions, comment on something you admire about the person, or congratulate them on achievements they share.

DO SOME RESEARCH

Find out whether someone has changed jobs or had something exciting happen since you last spoke. Check LinkedIn or mutual friends. You’ll be more prepared for your first conversation.

MEET FACE TO FACE

Digital communications are convenient but personal interactions make a deeper impression. Now that Covid restrictions have eased, circulate offline as much as possible. Attend industry events and invite others out for coffee or lunch.

STAY INFORMED

Your conversation will be more interesting if you know what’s happening in your field and the wider world. Read books, watch movies, and engage in deep conversations. Stay away from political, religious or controversial topics. The last thing you want to do is come across as obnoxious or opinionated.

GIVE MORE

You’ve probably heard that successful networking is about being generous. You can help others by sending articles, making referrals, or just sharing an encouraging word.

 COMPLIMENT SINCERELY

 When meeting someone for the first time, introduce yourself and then provide a sincere compliment about the person you are talking to. Make sure it is of something they are wearing, an object etc. The compliment should be about their style, choice of colour or accessories, not about physical attributes as they generally can’t determine their physical genes.