The Importance of Networking (and tips to do it well!)
Let’s face it: networking isn’t always at the top of our priority list. It can be awkward, time consuming, and after a long work week, it’s often much less appealing than the couch. However, it is an essential part of advancing your career. I often tell my own children, “you will likely get a job through who you know rather than through your education or your work experience.” These days, it is not enough to keep your head down and produce A+ work. You need to connect with others, be vocal about your interests and career goals, and build relationships with people you might not otherwise have met.
I will share with you a prime example of why networking is important. A few months ago, I was invited by a friend to attend a women corporate directors event. While I serve on many non-profit boards, it has long been a career goal of mine to sit on a corporate board. I mentioned this to my friend, and she thought this event would be a great opportunity. As I prepared to pack up and leave the office, I felt exhausted and tempted to drive right home. Not wanting to let my friend down, I forced myself to head downtown and attend the event.
It turned out that she had to cancel at the last minute. So there I was, entering a room full of people whom I did not know. I peered over at the elevator and thought, “this is my chance to make an exit and go home to relax.” However, I again forced myself to be disciplined and headed into the event. There were many groups of two and three, but I finally spotted someone alone and walked up to them. I introduced myself and over the course of the evening, she introduced me to a number of interesting women that I have since added to my network of contacts. Now, what if I had driven home instead, or let discomfort or fear of not knowing anyone dissuade me from walking in? It would have been an opportunity missed.
This was not the first time I’ve walked into a room without knowing anyone, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Over the years, I developed a few tips for how to make the most of your networking. I hope my approach will help you enter these encounters with your best foot forward:
- Be Intentional
Networking should always be done with an intention and not just to collect business cards and be seen. Approach networking like you approach your work—set a goal for yourself and find a networking opportunity that meets that goal. In my situation above, it was as simple as, “I want to learn more about corporate boards.”
- Have An Ice Breaker
It can be tough to walk up to a stranger and start conversation, no matter how confident you are. But having a line ready to go in order to generate conversation is crucial. I have found much success with a simple, “What brings you here to this event?” It works every time—it goes straight to the point and builds on your first common interest: that fact that you’re both there for a reason!
- Be Open About Your Career Goals
Had I not felt comfortable in speaking about my intention for the corporate networking event I discussed, it’s likely I never would have achieved my goal in attending the event, nor taken anything away from the event besides a few business cards . Often times, we don’t want to come off as pushy or disingenuous, so we tiptoe around our goals in networking. But I encourage you to speak up about your goals, so that you can connect with people who can actually help you take steps towards achieving them.
- Follow Up
If you have a great conversation with someone at a networking event and exchange contact information, send a note to him or her and remark on your interaction. Tell the person something specific you enjoyed about speaking with them. If you offered to connect them with someone else, follow through. Networking isn’t over when you walk out of the event!