Most professionals already have heard plenty of comments like this.<\/p>\n
And I suspect they can list many benefits of creating a broad and diverse group of connections.<\/p>\n
But, often, knowing the value of networking isn\u2019t enough to get people moving.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
There are reasons they\u2019ve been resisting socializing. They might say:<\/p>\n
- \n
- I don\u2019t have the time.<\/li>\n
- It doesn\u2019t feel authentic to chat up strangers.<\/li>\n
- I just don\u2019t know where to begin.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I understand that the concept of networking seems to make some people cringe.<\/p>\n
So instead of arguing the point, I work with each person to find techniques they can enjoy. As they start to enhance existing relationships and build new ones, they feel a sense of accomplishment, and they gradually start to have fun.<\/p>\n
You <\/em>can have fun, too!<\/p>\n
Building Your Network Painlessly<\/em><\/h2>\n
Here are strategies for painlessly building your network:<\/p>\n
\u00a0 1. Start where you are. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Expanding your circle of connections means not only meeting new folks but also firming up contacts you have now.<\/p>\n
You can jump-start your networking by reaching out to the people you encounter in the places where you already hang out.<\/p>\n
Last year, my client Barbara decided to chat more often with the folks in her yoga classes. And when she invited a friendly yogini out for coffee, the woman mentioned an opening at her office that sounded perfect. Barbara followed up and snagged a job offer within two weeks.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 2. Say \u201cthank you.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
A powerful way to strengthen relationships within your circle is to express gratitude or offer sincere compliments.<\/p>\n
Rob ran a legal department where a survey suggested he wasn\u2019t well liked. In describing his feedback style, Rob said lawyers don\u2019t need praise. \u201cThese people are grown-ups,\u201d <\/em>he said. \u201cAnd if I\u2019m not yelling they know they\u2019re doing good work.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n
Together we came up with a game requiring him to stay at the office each day until he had logged three instances of praise or thanks for a team member\u2019s good work. After a slow start, he raised his daily target to five positive comments.<\/p>\n
Soon Rob said he was addicted to his \u201cthank you\u201d practice. \u201cNot only do they like it, but noticing the good stuff makes me feel so much happier.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0 3. Try other activities. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
The real juice in networking comes when you start expanding your social web.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re not seeing new faces because you spend most hours at home or in the office, it may be time to find new ways to have fun.<\/p>\n
Bob was a marketing consultant struggling to build his client base. The stress of the hunt was getting to him, so he decided get more exercise by joining the neighborhood softball team.<\/p>\n
It turns out that one of his teammates needed marketing help, and today this softball buddy is Bob\u2019s biggest client.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 4. Find a helpful role. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
When you decide to get more strategic about networking, you\u2019ll probably join professional groups, sign up for local events, or head to conferences.<\/p>\n
It can be intimidating and exhausting to be in a crowd where you don\u2019t know anyone. But you can ease your stress at all sorts of gatherings by volunteering to help.<\/p>\n
If you join the planning committee, you\u2019ll know a few people by the time of the event. And conference organizers are always looking for helpers to do things like hand out agendas or sit at name-tag tables.<\/p>\n
I often feel more comfortable when I have an assignment, so if I go to a party I may offer to help with something, like taking coats or tending bar.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 5. Create games. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
When you\u2019re at a cocktail bash full of strangers, don\u2019t just stand there and suffer. Give yourself a little challenge.<\/p>\n
As a young Washington lawyer, I represented clients at congressional fund raising events. When I entered that world I felt like a nobody, and I dreaded imposing on anyone\u2019s time.<\/p>\n
So I amused myself with small games. I might decide I couldn\u2019t leave the room until I had encouraged at least three strangers to talk about their pets.<\/p>\n
Maybe I\u2019d glance at my watch and say to someone, \u201cI need to get home to let my dog out.\u201d<\/em> I might just get a shrug, but often people would start telling me about their pets.<\/p>\n
After sharing Rover\u2019s story, they were more likely to remember me next time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 6. Show up. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Whether it\u2019s a party, a board meeting or a workshop, it is hard work to stage an event. And it is very disheartening when nobody comes.<\/p>\n
Often you can do something kind, and build a relationship at the same time, by saying \u201cyes\u201d to invitations.<\/p>\n
And once you have agreed to attend, never <\/em>ghost a host.<\/p>\n
When I\u2019ve thrown an important event, I can recall the guests who attended, even years later. And that is pretty normal.<\/p>\n
By accepting invitations, you will be doing somebody a favor at the same time you seize the chance to mingle.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 7. Don’t assume networking happens only at large events with strangers. \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Often, the best, most comfortable networking happens in groups of five or fewer people.<\/p>\n
Leverage LinkedIn, other social networks, and Google to track down former colleagues, co-workers, and other members of your network you have not seen for a while. Or, simply invite people you have just met at work or at another event to have a cup of coffee or a bite to eat.<\/p>\n
I watched a former co-worker connect with a great new job when she met a former boss at a small “corporate alumni” get together.<\/p>\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n
Networking helps you keep up with trends, while you meet prospective clients, mentors and employers. More important, when you make the effort to forge human connections you lay groundwork for true friendships and personal growth.<\/p>\n
More About Job Search Networking:<\/h3>\n
- \n
- How to Nurture Your Network and Empower Your Career<\/a><\/li>\n
- 7 Reasons Networking Is Critical<\/em> to Your Career Success<\/a><\/li>\n
- 7 Strategies for\u00a0Painlessly<\/em>\u00a0Building Your Network<\/a><\/li>\n
- The 4 Essential Skills for Networking Success<\/a><\/li>\n
- What Network? I Don’t Have a Network<\/a><\/li>\n
- 10 Success Tips for Reluctant Networkers<\/a><\/li>\n
- 10 Networking No-No’s<\/a><\/li>\n
- Networking Lunch Rules<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to Make Employee Referral Programs Work for You<\/a><\/li>\n
- Questions to Ask in Informational Interviews<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n![\"Beverly](\"https:\/\/job-hunt.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/BeverlyEJones200a-6.jpg\")
About the author…<\/strong><\/p>\nBeverly E. Jones is a Job-Hunt Networking Contributor. Bev is an executive coach, and a former lawyer and corporate executive. In addition, she is an active writer and speaker, and the author of \u201cThink Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.\u201d<\/em> Her career podcast, \u201cJazzed About Work<\/a>,\u201d appears on NPR.org. Visit her website, Clearways Consulting<\/a>, and Find Bev on LinkedIn<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Facebook<\/a>.
\nMore about this author<\/a>…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Job seekers often struggle to follow the advice that they should network to their new job. Beverly E. Jones offers 7 strategies to make networking enjoyable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":21689,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"old-site-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,18,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-salary-compensation","category-information-interviews","category-job-search-networking"],"last_modified_at":"","edited_by":"Wendy Fecteau","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4794"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21690,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4794\/revisions\/21690"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- 7 Reasons Networking Is Critical<\/em> to Your Career Success<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to Nurture Your Network and Empower Your Career<\/a><\/li>\n