We've all heard how important it is, yet few of us have a clue how to do it or what it really means. What am I talking about?
Networking.
As an engineer, I understand people's reluctance and confusion over the topic. We technical folk were all pretty happy with "network" the noun, because that had to do with cables and routers. "Networking" the verb? That's a different story. That involves people. Gross.
Today, I'm going to explain what networking really is, why it isn't all that complicated, and how it's important for you and your career.
What is networking?
Simply put, networking is the act of creating and maintaining professional relationships. When you think about a relationship as an ongoing giving and receiving of things between two people, you can see that this isn't all that hard to wrap your head around.
The question, then, is what do you give and receive? Your time and expertise.
Like I said, professional relationships are a lot like any other relationship. You give your friends and family your time and attention. You go out of your way to lend them a hand, even if it's not convenient for you and even if you don't expect anything in return. You can do the same thing in a professional context.
Networking is just finding people in your industry that you can help, then helping them on a regular basis. I don't worry about what I can get from people. I'll dig more into that below.
What's the point of networking?
The point of networking is to help people get to know, like, and trust you. If you make a habit of helping others, some great things can happen:
- People tend to want to return the favour and help you succeed in your endeavours.
- You can earn business from your network because people are more likely to deal with others they know, like, and trust.
- Getting your next job will be much easier - the vast majority of positions available aren't posted publicly. If your network knows what you're great at and love to do, they may well come to you to let you know about interesting positions.
- Huge personal satisfaction comes from just being a good person and helping others.
Again, when networking, I tend not to target specific people in order to eventually get something out of them. You have no idea what a given person will be doing 6 months from now, where they'll be, what their job title will be, or who they'll be having coffee with to talk shop. You also don't know what your needs will be in the future. My approach is to give first. Then give again, and again, and again. If at some point in the future you need something, you can ask, after you've established the relationship.
Start networking right now
If you're not already an active networking type, try this:
- Think of 3 people you could help with your expertise.
- Think of a 10 minute mini-task you could do for each of those people.
- Do it.
- Share it with them along with a note to explain that you had thought of them and that you wanted to give them a hand.
- Next week, go back to step 1.
You'll be amazed at how spending a dedicated 30 minutes a week helping people can change your professional life.
About Pat Sweet
Twitter: @engileader