9 Tips For Mastering the Art of Networking
Graduation is creeping up in a few months and the reality of finding a promising job is starting to feel unforeseeable. You start to realize that your super cool and hip summer internship will not be enough to set you apart from the other thousands of post grads in your hometown. How can someone with minimum experience land a dream job?
I once had a professor who gave me one of the best advice I’ve ever received in college – you need to network, network, NETWORK.
To succeed in the professional world, you must build relationships because people are more likely to hire people they have an established connection with. Hiring employees are people too, and it’s human nature to trust the ones they already have a relationship with, or if you both have mutual acquaintances.
What is networking? Networking is the exchanging of information between two people, but it also involves establishing relationships with those who have the potential to become your friends or colleagues throughout your career.
If you are an introvert like myself, I understand that this is probably your worst nightmare – I get it! BUT if you want to dominate the job market, you need to step out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there. Don’t worry, I’m going to give you 9 important tips when it comes to networking so you can talk to professionals with confidence.
Set a goal The worst thing you can do when you go to a networking event is to not have a purpose in mind. If you do not set specific goals of why you are attending the meetup, you will ultimately end up wasting your time. So, ask yourself, why are you coming to the meetup? Is your goal to build connections in your industry? Are you looking for an internship? Are you going to seek professional advice? Establish your goals and you will have a much better success in effectively using your time while networking.
Be genuinely interested in people People can always tell if you are faking your interest in them or if you are genuinely engaged in the conversation. Talk to them as if you are interested in being their friend, not just to find out if their company is offering an entry-level position.
Don’t talk about work This leads me to my third tip, when you talk to a person for the first time, don’t talk about work. The key to building relationships goes beyond business talk. Find out WHO they are rather than WHAT they do.
Slide into group conversations Group conversations are a little bit less intimidating than a one-on-one talk. Slide yourself into a group chat and practice your communication skills. This is a great way to build up your confidence.
Identify what sets you apart Just like your resume, you need to establish what makes you different from everyone else. This is a chance for you to show others what makes you unique and what you can bring to the table. It doesn’t have to be a certain skill set, even telling a story of the time you went to another country will get you a long way.
Learn to listen Humans are simple by nature, we like to talk about ourselves. A tip for being a great communicator is learning how to listen when the other person is talking. Ask questions and engage in the conversation. Showing them you are a great listener will give them the impression that you will most likely be a good colleague.
Ask open-ended questions This one is simple – don’t ask yes or no questions. If you want to keep the conversation flowing, you need to ask questions that they can elaborate on. Keep the conversation going and it will feel more natural.
Connect online You will most likely meet many people at a single networking event. Make sure to ask if they want to connect via LinkedIn, Facebook, or even get their phone number. If you don’t, they will never remember you.
Follow up and maintain communication Lastly, remember to follow up with them after the event. Send a quick message saying how great it was to meet them and you hope to get in contact with them in the future. If you want to go a step further, mention what you talked about. This will let them know you genuinely valued their conversation.
Talking to strangers can be scary, but hopefully with these tips you will feel more confident the next time you decide to attend a networking event. You’ll never know what opportunities you might run into!
