Often it’s not just what you know that helps you in business, but who you know. So no matter what stage of your career you are at or what industry you’re working in, successful networking could help you get to where you want to go! Whether you’re just starting out, thinking of a career change or you just want to grow your business, you should head on down to some networking events and get chatting. But before you do, the Adzuna team have concocted 5 networking pearls of wisdom you should take along to every networking opportunity.
1. Be confident. Introducing yourself to people you don’t know can be a little daunting, especially if you’re naturally a bit shy. It can be easy to fall into the trap of only speaking to people that you already know, but this makes the whole exercise pointless. Don’t make a beeline for the most important people in the room to start with, have a couple of warm up conversations so that you can practice your patter and have it perfect when you get to people that you really need to talk to. The thing to remember is that lots of people feel the same way about networking! It can be a little awkward but if you are confident and reach out to people, they will be thankful that you are making the effort and breaking the ice.
2. Help other people if you can. Networking is a two way process. You cannot solely think of it as a way to get yourself ahead, so if you can help other people by sharing your experience and expertise, please do! More often than not, if you have helped someone out, down the line they will return the favour. Good news travels fast so it will help you build a positive reputation, other people will then start to approach you so networking will be a lot less easier.
3. Listen and remember what people say. This might seem a little obvious, but it will help you get to know that person and you might even gain some valuable advice. Ask people, who you are genuinely interested in, open ended questions and listen to their answers. Shouting over people and being dismissive of their ideas won’t win you any friends, but taking the time to listen to someone could be the foundation of a mutually beneficial relationship.
4. Get contact details… and actually use them. Whether you’ve met one useful person or 20, don’t be afraid to get in touch with them after the event. Stockpiling business cards for a rainy day won’t help you, so send a friendly email or pick up the phone and call them. Take the plunge because 6 months down the line, when you need some advice or a referral, it’s a lot more difficult to restart that conversation.
5. Be professional. Don’t go over the top, you may well be really enthusiastic but you don’t want to come across as a bit OTT. If you make a bad impression or rub people up the wrong way you might end up leaving the event with fewer connections than when you walked through the door. Be polite, friendly and courteous to everyone, even if you don’t want to talk to them or they’re seriously boring, you are there to build your personal brand not meet your new BFF.
Networking really isn’t that scary once you get the hang of it. Even If you haven’t got any events coming up, don’t worry, you can network virtually with a little help from your friends and Adzuna Connect!