Tips To Improve Professional Networking Skills To Boost Your Career
We are in a business of constantly networking ourselves. We sell a part of our skillset every day to sustain and grow. But what are the skill sets that can help you pave through professional networking and boost your career? These are!
First of all, what exactly does networking mean? Well, networking is the exchange of information among people with a common profession or special interest, usually in an informal social setting.
Networking is used by professionals to expand their circles of acquaintances, to find out about job opportunities in their field and to increase their awareness of news and trends not just in their field but in the greater world too.
In today’s world, networking is a necessity. However much a person can hate networking and feel that it is uncomfortable and inauthentic, he/she has to expand the circle of friends and acquaintances in order to thrive in their careers.
Plenty of research shows that a professional network leads to more job and business opportunities, broader and deeper knowledge, improved capacity to innovate, and greater status and authority. Building and nurturing professional relationships also improves the quality of work and job satisfaction.
There is no denying the power a strong professional network can have over your career success. When it’s done well, networking will not only help you obtain a job faster, but it will also give you a competitive edge throughout your career. Not saying that it’s going to give you an easy way out.
Stefan Fletcher, president of social networking company Madison Magnet says, “I can’t tell you how many business partnerships or new careers I’ve seen start at one of our monthly happy hour networking events. The most important relationships, however, are those that grow to be true relationships. You’ll find that these will last longer and be much more beneficial in the long run.”
The importance of networking cannot be overstated, but how can you improve your networking skills to ensure you are networking efficiently and effectively? These networking tips might help. So take advantage! You can start with these networking tips and best practices from job search industry experts.
LISTEN, INSTEAD OF TELLING.
As Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation.com, says, “If you let them, you can learn what they do and meanwhile think about how you can fit in and create a stronger network. I believe that listening is critical because it is through listening that you can identify opportunities.”
It won’t come to you as a surprise that many people go into networking trying to tell you who they are and what they do. People want to talk about themselves. Professional networking is no different. It’s important to realize this, but even more important is to listen.
You need to engage with these people, pay close attention when they go on and on about themselves and then, follow up on with all the information you’ve just been given.
PRACTICE YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH
An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive speech that you use to spark interest in what your organization does. You can also use them to create interest in a project, idea, or product — or in yourself.
An elevator pitch is similar to a personal selling statement, yet different from a sales pitch because it’s more of a conversation starter. A good pitch lasts between 15 and 45 seconds — about the length of an elevator ride (which is partly how it got its name).
The elevator pitch that you use when you first start networking is most likely not the elevator pitch that you use subsequently. It changes all of the time. As you start to develop your business and experience new things and new people, your wants and needs will change as well.
Your elevator pitch will be adjusted to fit the rest of it. Bear in mind that when you are giving your elevator pitch, people aren’t interested in the minutest details. They are interested in the bottom line and they want to know immediately how you and your business can help them to solve their problems.
Here are some important aspects of an elevator pitch that you can inculcate in yours to sell yourself in a conference, a business meeting or an interview:
You need to be persuasive
Share your skills
Mention your goals
Know your audience and speak to them
Have a business card in handy
Structure your content. Keep it chronological.
Know your worth: there are only two things that can hold you back in life; fear and self-doubt.
A brief personal introduction that includes your career objectives
Humor
Entertainment
Very little or no technical details
If you incorporate these elements into your elevator pitch, you will capture the audience’s attention and you will succeed at keeping their attention.
PAPER IS IMPORTANT
Résumé and Business cards. When it comes to business, bringing yourself will never suffice. Unfortunately, that’s not enough. You NEED that paper.
RÉSUMÉ — Nancy Range Anderson of Blackbird Learning Associates, LLC says that “Have a copy of your resume with you, but don’t supply it unless asked.”
BUSINESS CARDS — If your work doesn’t supply them or if you’re a freelancer, invest in making you own before the event.
And, of course, after the networking event, you should follow up with a thankyou note, especially for the ones who made an impression on you. Don’t send thankyou notes to everyone you meet but the ones who you genuinely wish to speak with and establish a relationship with.
BE MINDFUL OF TIME
Sarah Hetyonk suggests, “If you are at a conference, approach speakers before their talk. People tend to swarm after, so you can avoid having a rushed conversation.”
Timing is everything. When networking, you want to make the most of it. You don’t want to be approaching someone right at the end of the event as things are winding up and the person is all worn out and not in his best state of mind to even remember your name.
DON’T BE A SALESPERSON
Business networking is all about learning and forming mutually beneficial relationships. When approaching someone, bring up their business or interest.
Refrain from sharing your job hunt unless asked.
Find some common ground and begin with a casual conversation.
“Be genuine and avoid putting yourself in the spotlight. Your goal is to build initial connections and collect cards. It’s important to not go in with a ‘What can I get out of it for myself?’ mentality.” Samantha Cortez of Doctor Felix suggests.
SET GOALS FOR THE EVENT
Networking goals are important and they will help you come out on the other end with more than just a stack of business cards in hand. Set goals, but keep them realistic. If your goal is to meet 15 new people, stick to that.
Make sure you decide what you want to get out of this particular event before attending.
“By creating goals for yourself, you’re also creating a measurable situation that allows you to track your personal progress,” says Cortez.
FOLLOW THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF NETWORKING
Consultant Keith McHugh of Painted Rock Enterprises has a secret for you. There are two major unwritten rules when networking for jobs:
Never ask for an interview. Ask to learn more about the company instead.
Never ask for a job. Let your connections -new and old- know that you are in the market for a position or role that you would be interested in learning more if they happen to be aware of any potential opportunities.
IDENTIFY WHAT NETWORKING STYLE WORKS BEST FOR YOU
“There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to networking,” says TopResume’s career advice expert, Amanda Augustine. “Different people are successful in using different networking tactics.”
Introverts shouldn’t try networking with people like extroverts do because they don’t connect with people on levels like extroverts.
It is important to be confident and comfortable in how much you speak with people so that you put your best foot forward.
OFFER TO HELP
Networking should never be one-sided. It should put value on the sides of both parties. Look for ways in which you can help them and they’ll surely want to extend their hands to return you the favor.
Another option you can go for is volunteering. Work for or with a nonprofit organization or group that resonates with you and you’ll likely make stronger, long-lasting connections with fellow volunteers.
TAKE IT SLOW
There’s no need to rush into things. “Before asking a networking connection a question or soliciting their advocacy on your behalf, it’s critical that you first ‘warm’ up the relationship,” says Cheryl Lynch Simpson, a job-search and LinkedIn coach at Executive Resume Rescue.
If you don’t know the person well or at all, you may want to break the ice gently by finding ways you can genuinely be of service. This may include offering recommendations, resources, referrals or other information.
If you know the person already and haven’t been in contact with them lately, use a common ground to begin talking about. It could be anything like games, politics, diseases (a very hot topic nowadays), etc.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
There is a reason why Google is so great. It really is a know-it-all! You should use it to your advantage when it comes to professional networking and career development.
A simple Google search can give you a tremendous amount of valuable knowledge about building contacts and establishing professional networks online as well as in the real world. You can also read about the common traits of successful people in the world here. After all, who better than a businessman to learn about networking?
Originally published at https://www.fuzia.com.