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Networking is one of the most important skills to develop for your career path. Most people—both experts and professionals—agree that networking is crucial for finding professional success. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of people who found a job or earned a promotion because they got information from someone they knew personally.
In fact, experts say at least 70 percent of jobs aren’t listed publicly, and up to 85 percent of people found their current position through networking. So, since this is such a necessary skill, you need to learn how to do it successfully.
What exactly is networking?
To understand how to properly network yourself, you need to understand what networking actually entails. What networking isn’t is cold-calling professionals in your field and asking for a job or a mentorship. This is the wrong approach and will get you nowhere fast. Networking is an ongoing process of establishing meaningful connections that can benefit both of you in some capacity. Successful networkers seek out relationships asking, “How can I help?” rather than “What can I get out of this?”
Make connections through others
The easiest way to meet people and network is through other people’s referrals. Stay close with people you already know and who also know the kind of people you want to meet. Getting introduced to them will likely start you off on the right foot with a warmer greeting, and welcome you into their circle.
Use social media
Social media is a powerful tool for networking and helps you make connections with the right people without a face-to-face interaction you may not be prepared for. Use LinkedIn, Twitter, or even Facebook to seek out like-minded contacts and comment on a post they’ve shared, or responding to a comment they’ve made. Then you can start a conversation and offer something of value, so once you meet in person, you’ve already established a bit of a connection.
Ask proven networkers for tips
It’s always acceptable to ask successful people for tips and pointers. This way, you can get expert advice that truly works. Seeking out proven successful networkers can be tricky, but one industry you can turn to is the network marketing industry for experts like tonivans.com. Since their whole business is based on networking and making connections, they are more than likely to have the information you seek in order to become a successful networker.
Find a reason to follow up
Establishing a solid connection takes time and effort, and if you want the relationship to keep going and building, you need to create a reason to keep it alive. Maintain communication by sending them a relevant article you read online accompanied by a quick note of your thoughts and why you think they would be interested. If it’s appropriate, send them job openings you think they would be a good fit for. Try your best to find opportunities to reconnect and show your value.
Let others do the talking
When you’re networking, make sure you aren’t dominating every conversation and giving the other person a chance to talk and contribute. Good conversationalists don’t just talk – they excel at listening. If all you do is talk, the other person might feel you aren’t interested in what they have to say. Be sure to ask open-ended questions, ask their opinions on topics or trends, and listen to their responses.