What is professional networking




















The group may include family members or friends who can help you steer your job search in the right direction. In other words, knowing who to contact when in your job search. In your job search, take advantage of influencers in your nodal network who can speak to your talents, experience, and character. Beyond these two types of professional networks, you can map out your network strategy even further by considering three network subgroups described in a H arvard Business Review article on how leaders create and use networks.

These subcategories overlap to some extent with the professional networks described above:. When it comes to your job search, people in your operational network may be in trade groups, professional organizations, or otherwise directly knowledgable or connected to the kind of work you do—or hope to do. These are contacts who may not be in your career field or industry, but who may be thought leaders and bigger-picture visionaries who can help you with longer-term career planning, or discovering avenues that could lead to a big career change.

Fellow alumni, social media connections , and professional meet-up organizations can fall into the personal network category. Of all the job search resources at your disposal, networking and building connections remains at the top of the list of tools that can help you find job search success.

Making the best use of friends and colleagues, and of their friends and colleagues, can move your career forward—sometimes in unexpected ways. For more tips on how to make your job search a success, subscribe to the FlexJobs newsletter. You'll get career advice, fresh jobs, and more sent right to your inbox! Just purchased the 3 - Month plan.

Just purchased the Monthly plan. Just purchased the Yearly plan. More of This Week's News. See All New Jobs. Be thankful. Remember that your networking contacts do not owe you anything. If they go out of their way to help you or provide you with a reference or helping hand in a potential job, be sure to thank them. Show your gratitude in a professional way that emphasizes how much they have helped you.

Share your knowledge. Similar to returning favors, be willing to share your knowledge with any contacts you may make who might be earlier in their career than you. Remember, we all start somewhere, and a bit of advice or knowledge could benefit a peer in ways you may not even imagine.

This makes them much more likely to engage positively with you and to surface you as a recommendation, should a new opportunity arise for you. Stay relevant. Professions can change quickly, and skills, experiences, and abilities can become outdated swiftly.

Be sure to open yourself up to learning new things, staying up-to-date with recent events, programs, and developments in your career. And, be sure to share this information with contacts in your own professional network as well. Our resume builder tool will walk you through the process of creating a stand-out Architect resume. What are the types of professional networking? The three types of professional networking are operational, personal, and strategic. An operational network is made up of people who are involved in your current job.

Former colleagues, professors, friends, people you meet at networking events — these are the folks in your personal network. Your strategic network blends the two.

A close friend and colleague who quits but stays in your field and remains a contact in both a work context and personal context afterward is a member of your strategic network. Why is professional networking important? Professional networking is important for staying current and competitive in the job market.

Professionals with high-quality networks have access to more resources both for completing their current job more competently and finding a new job should the need arise. Having a strong network ensures that you see the full breadth of opportunities available to you.

What are examples of networking? Examples of networking include going to a business conference and chatting with likeminded individuals, meeting up with a former colleague for lunch, emailing a client to wish them a happy birthday, and having an informal brainstorming session with coworkers at the end of each week. Truly any social interaction that happens in the context of your career is a moment of networking.

Even the regular daily interactions you have with your colleagues count as networking because they strengthen and maintain professional relationships. How do I practice networking? To practice networking, start by focusing on others.

Related: Become a Networking Expert in 7 Steps. There are several people you can include in your professional network. The following are suggestions as to who you can include in your network:. If you were particularly close with any of your college professors, you should include them in your professional network. Any professors you had throughout your college career as well as specific ones who taught in your field or major can all be members of your network. You can include former classmates from college in your professional network.

Additionally, if you were part of a sorority or fraternity, you can use your brothers or sisters as your network as well. While it may seem obvious, some people forget to include their friends in their professional network. Let your friends know of your career aspirations so they can be aware of the goals you want to accomplish in case an opportunity arises on their end.

Both former and current coworkers should be part of your professional network. Coworkers have a clear understanding of your professional capabilities, so they can help you outline achievable goals or advancements. If you are a member of a professional organization or club, you should network with others in the organization. Mingling with people outside of your immediate work environment but still within your profession can provide new perspectives and resources.

Your family is also an important part of your professional network. Even if your immediate family isn't in your professional field, you should still keep them updated on your goals just in case a relative knows someone who could help you in your career.

Related: 7 Networking Tips for Getting a Job. Your professional network can play an important role in various aspects of your career. The most obvious way is by providing potential leads to a new job. The following are additional benefits of having a professional network:.

Think carefully and determine the purpose of attending an event , seminar, conference, etc. The plan you develop must have clear goals so that you can follow them properly.

Build a relationship by reaching out to the right people as it will help in creating a network that will prove beneficial in your career.

It includes friends, family members, colleagues, managers, peers, etc. You might know a lot of people but when was the last time you had contact with them.

Invest in relationships by keeping in touch and making contact at regular intervals. This will make your relationship stronger, and you can ask anyone for a personal recommendation anytime without hesitation. Make sure you know the dress code for the event you are attending. In case of doubt, pick an outfit that is washed and ironed and has a professional look. It is not right to look disorganized or casual at such events as it will result in the wrong impression.

Keep the cards in a card case and take them out from it in front of others. An important tip that is very useful in a professional network is showing up a bit early at events.

The crowds are lighter at this time and will provide you with numerous opportunities for conversation and productive interactions. If you are unable to be early, then at least be punctual and arrive on time. This quality will be appreciated by one and all as it shows that you value time. It speaks highly about your character and demonstrates your true nature. There are numerous professional network sites like LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter , Academia, Instagram, and Slideshare that work beautifully through the internet.

These tools help in keeping touch and making powerful connections hence maintain a high-level activity to maintain relationships. Face-to-face talks are the best way to boost your chances of success through professional networks.

Be present at events and business functions where you can meet lots of talented people. It includes trade fairs, conferences, educational events, and social events. Be active and engage in small talks initially to enter into important circles. Remember it is your positive communication, sunny smile, and charming disposition that will hold you in good stead hence be charismatic while maintaining influential people.



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