In today’s fast-paced world of recruitment – or, more specifically, employment – it can be hard to get your foot in the door and land that all-important next role. In recent years, the whole process has become far more impersonal, with digital job boards taking over from bricks and mortar agencies (or simply walking into an employer’s building), applications being sent in just a few clicks, and hundreds CVs piling up to be quickly sifted through by HR professionals and/or hiring managers.
You may then hear back, you may get an auto-responder rejection email, or you may never learn your fate – ‘ghosting’, as it’s become known.
This means, to stand out in a cluttered marketplace, candidates need to try other ways to get that foot in the door we mentioned.
One such way, which can really boost your job search, is through professional networking – meeting like-minded individuals in your field, or even those from other fields, who can, through their connections, open up a whole new world of opportunities to you.
You can meet these people at industry events or conferences, by joining professional bodies or associations, by attending business breakfast networking clubs, by reaching out to friends and family for referrals, or using online networking platforms, like LinkedIn.
Networking can help you, regardless of whether you’re looking for work in London or Edinburgh.
It works wherever you are.
In this post, we’re going to cover both how to network and just why networking is important, particularly in respect of temporary jobs where, very often, employers are looking for someone to fill a role quickly, and need someone they can rely on – someone who’s come recommended.
Why is networking important?
When it comes to why networking is important, there are a whole host of reasons – chief among them being the new job opportunities and career growth it can offer.
Simply put, the more professionals you know, both within and outside of your chosen field, the more likely it is that one of them will refer you to your next employer for a new role.
There are many other reasons why it’s to your advantage to consider professional networking.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Gaining new insights into your industry, the job market, certain trends, and different company cultures.
- The chance to learn from experienced professionals from various industries, such as hospitality, industrial, and facilities management.
- The chance to showcase your skills and experience to potential employers.
- The opportunity to build strong relationships with other industry professionals, with an eye on long-term career development.
- Learning about new roles in advance, before they’ve even been advertised/posted – giving you the chance to ‘get in there early’.
- Being able to get free feedback on your CV, covering letter or profile summary, and your interview skills.
- Learning about free resources, whether online or offline, that could help to upskill you, making you a more valuable asset in the job market.
Students and post-grads
For those new to the job market, such as university students and recent graduates looking for jobs, professional networking and knowing just how to network is of particular importance, as they’re unlikely to have yet made the professional connections that others in their chosen field have.
Getting out there, attending events, conferences, and seminars, and using platforms such as Linkedin can help students or post-grads quickly catch up with their peers who have more experience than them – helping them to land a new role more quickly.
Types of professional networking
We’ve covered why networking is important, but what about what networking actually is – the different types of professional networking out there.
If you’re looking to connect with both peers and industry leaders, where should you focus your attention?
Well, any of the following are good starting points for your networking journey:
- Industry-specific events: these events are usually organised by professional bodies or trade associations, such as the Chambers of Commerce or the Confederation of British Industry. They’re a great way to meet people in your industry, or other, related industries, and learn about new trends, developments, or even new roles.
- Networking groups: there are a whole host of networking groups, both online and offline, such as the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB), which accepts individuals.
- Online networking platforms: these come in the form of websites such as LinkedIn and MeetUp and allow you to meet not just professionals in your immediate area, but those from right around the world.
- Trade shows: every industry – hospitality, retail, industrial, healthcare etc – has the trade show that all relevant professionals attend, usually at a large exhibition centre in a major city. Find out which event is for you and make sure you turn up.
- Mentorship prorgammes: these programmes offer a great opportunity to get advice and guidance from senior leaders in your profession, and learn from their experience.
- Volunteering: this is another great way to meet new people and build your professional network. It can also help you to develop new skills and knowledge.
- Social events: attending social events, such as industry parties or conferences, is yet another way to meet people and build your network.
Digital networking
Digital networking is particularly useful as it transcends all geographical boundaries, whether you’re looking for jobs in Manchester or jobs in Birmingham.
It means you can connect with people all over the country, or all over the world, even.
The most obvious channel for professional digital networking is LinkedIn, but that’s not to say you can’t, for example, use Facebook for networking; particularly if you join certain groups for those from your field of work.
A platform like LinkedIn allows you to connect with those from various industries, in various locations, research companies, and find out about potential new job openings.
It also allows you to build what’s commonly known as your ‘personal brand’, with a professional profile that showcases your skills, experience, and achievements to date.
You can even join relevant industry groups, join discussions, and connect with other like-minded individuals.
And you can get recommendations and endorsements from colleagues and former managers, making you stand out to potential employers.
Event-based networking
When it comes to how to network, event-based networking should be at the top of your list – incorporating job fairs, workshops, and conferences.
The face-to-face element gives you the chance to meet and connect with industry professionals on a more personal level, possibly leading to new job leads or referrals.
It also gives you the opportunity to learn about the trends and developments in your industry, so you can stay informed, giving you the competitive edge in interviews.
And you can build relationships at these events, with industry employers and recruiters – relationships which are for the long term and potentially make you a warm prospect, as a candidate, when a role does come up.
It’s best to be prepared for professional networking/industry events, to make the most of introductions and opportunities, so make sure you read up on each event before attending.
It’s also good to have an elevator pitch, which you’ve practiced, ready to use: this is 30 – 60 seconds about you, your work, your skills and experience that sells you – tells someone, briefly, why they should hire you.
An example of an elevator pitch could be something along the lines of:
‘Hi, I’m [Name], and I’ve worked in [Industry/Field] for [X years], as a [Type of role], specialising in [Key skills]. I’ve worked for companies such as [Mention previous employers], helping them to [deliver over 100 parcels per day/improve customer satisfaction scores by X%/turn over X tables per night]. But I particularly enjoy [Specific aspect of your field] and I’m currently looking for new opportunities where I can bring my skills to the table and really show what I can do.
It’d be great to talk more about this and see if I can help you or your company.’
If you can leave something that has your direct contact details on with those you meet, then all the better – perhaps a business card of some kind, with your name, phone number, and email address on.
How to network effectively
Knowing just how to network is vitally important, if you’re to make the most of events and digital platforms.
For example, when striking up conversations, it’s best to think of some good openers, smile, maintain eye contact, and offer a firm handshake by way of introduction. From then on, it’s all about building relationships.
Here are three main ways you can make the most of your networking.
1. Prepare ahead
Be sure to do a bit of research before attending any professional networking event: looking up both attendees and speakers who’ll be there.
This will ensure your approach is more targeted in terms of who you choose to have conversations with.
You can do this by:
- Checking the website for the event and/or the event programme, where you should find a list of attendees and speakers and which company they represent.
- Using social media platforms, such as Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram to search for attendees and see their background and interests.
- Researching the companies each of the people work for, what they do, their company culture, and whether they have any current job openings.
- Preparing some questions to ask them, in advance, to show your interest in them and their business.
And don’t forget to have all of your professional information, including full contact details, available. Get some business cards printed ahead of any event, and make sure your online profiles are up to date, with all relevant skills and experience.
2. Make genuine connections
When it comes to professional networking, both at events or online, it pays to build authentic relationships, rather than just stacking up business cards or clicking ‘connect’ with hundreds of people.
It’s much better to have a smaller network of strong, genuine relationships than a large network of superficial connections, who you barely know.
These genuine relationships can then be built on trust, making it far more likely that your contacts will refer you for job opportunities in future, or collaborate on projects with you, as they like and respect you.
Look out for people in the same industry as you, those slightly above the level you currently operate at, and those with similar interests to you – both inside and outside of work.
And during all interactions, show that you’re actively listening to people, paying close attention to what they’re saying. Avoid interrupting them and speak when they’ve finished. Be genuinely curious about that person and what they have to say, and ask questions or make statements that show you’ve been paying attention.
3. Follow up connections
Whether you’ve made new connections at an event or online, make sure you follow up on that initial contact or conversation.
With a platform like LinkedIn, you can send an initial message, when you connect, introducing yourself and saying why you’d like to connect. You can also send direct messages to the inbox of any of your connections. Be sure not to spam them though, or start selling right from the off.
Build the relationship slowly.
Offline/following an event, it pays to send an email to any new contacts you made, saying that you enjoyed speaking with them, mentioning something from your conversation (to show you were listening), and leaving the door open to keeping in touch and/or meeting again.
And to maintain and strengthen those relationships you’ve made, try, wherever possible, to:
- Be helpful – offering support and advice to your contacts
- Share relevant news, articles, or industry insights with them
- Respond to any emails or messages quickly
- Show your appreciation when they help or support you
- Reciprocate, if you can, when they do a favour for you
- Meet face-to-face, to build on your relationship(s).
Overcoming networking challenges
Finally, on our professional networking journey, we come to the bit that some people can find a bit tricky – the challenges presented, such as just how to approach people.
So here are some top tips to overcome any nerves or apprehension you may have:
- Start small: start by attending smaller networking groups, maybe with a couple of people you already know, or start online – where the nerves of meeting face to face are removed.
- Elevator pitch: remember the elevator pitch we mentioned earlier – that 30-60 seconds all about you, your background, and your skills? Practice it as much as you can.
- Find shared interests: find a common ground with those you meet – industry talk, hobbies, experiences.
- Ask open-ended questions: instead of questions that can be answered with a quick ‘yes’ or ‘no’, focus on those which open up the conversation a bit and let the other person do the work. Think of the 5 Ws – Who, What, When, Where, Why.
- Be your true self: don’t try to act differently or play a part. Be authentic and show off your true personality. It will allow you, again, to make more genuine connections.
Last but not least, try not to book so many professional networking events and make so many online connections that you get stressed or suffer a burnout from constantly being ‘on the go’.
Allow yourself time between events and don’t make so many connections that you find it impossible to keep up with them all and stay in touch.
Professional networking, and knowing just how to network and make valuable new connections, is an important part of any jobseeking process, allowing you to rely on a pool of fellow industry professionals for help, advice, and referrals for future opportunities.
Whether you choose to do networking face to face, at events, or online, or a bit of both, make sure you’re well prepared, build meaningful relationships that will serve you in the long term, and that you follow up with people and keep in touch with them.
Professional networking could open up a whole new world of possibilities and interests to you.
