The Art of Networking

Networking is all about meeting new people and building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with them. These relationships might result in some great opportunities that would not have been available to you otherwise. Choosing the right opportunities can significantly help you get ahead in your professional life.

However, that does not mean approaching those new people with the mindset that these people may be useful to you in the future. The main objective when you interact with others is to have a genuine connection, which can perhaps last for a very long time.

Finding Networks

Potential networks are everywhere. Your family is a huge, already-made network for you. Your parents, your grandparents, that uncle of yours who is a manager in XYZ company, that distant relative who is a big-time lawyer, that cousin who is studying in an IIT or IIM—all of these are networks. You just have to reach out and have a conversation.

Other than them, remember your old school friends, your college peers, and all of your faculty, present and past; these are networks too.

These are the easiest people to start networking with. However, these are all people you already have some kind of connection with. Apart from these people, you can network with your college alumni, colleagues, past employers, friends of your colleagues, guest lecturers, individuals you have met at conferences, seminars, workshops, and career fairs, and people from your outside hobbies like painting and football.

Tips on Networking

1. Having a LinkedIn profile is a must in today’s world. Though sending a connection request on LinkedIn is not networking, it is a small step in the right direction. Conversations with your connections are what lead to meaningful relationships.

2. You can write an email in formal language to your prospective network by asking them to spare you some of their time, either over the phone or in person. The email should be clear, concise, and to the point. The email should tell them how you came to know about them, the advice you seek, and also specify information about your professional knowledge and skills.

3. Whatever you do, do not come off as needy and greedy for a job. Remember that you are there for information or advice and to establish a connection.

4. If you are meeting them in person, greet them with a handshake and do thank them for their time. Though it might not seem important, it is better that you dress in semi-formals or formals and thus make an excellent first impression.

5. Be a good listener and ask open-ended questions so that you can have a full-fledged, stimulating conversation rather than a dry and boring one. Also, don’t ask for things that are readily available on the internet, like their place of education and employment.

6. Send them a prompt thank-you email and stay in touch.

7. Make yourself useful too; if you can be of help to your networks, present yourself as a reliable and valuable resource to others.

Networking might seem awkward in the beginning, but it is what needs to be done. Enjoy the process. Networking will help you become a confident professional. The more you do it, the more natural and easy it will be.

Networking will give you strong professional ties, access to job opportunities, increased knowledge, and enhanced communication and social skills. Networking will certainly help you become a better, more well-rounded professional.

By Harshita Sipani