What is networking?
Networking is defined as “behaviors that are aimed at building, maintaining, and using informal relationships that possess the (potential) benefit of facilitating work-related activities of individuals by voluntarily granting access to resources and maximizing common advantages” (Wolff & Moser, 2009, pp. 196-197). At its heart, networking is about building and maintaining relationships with people which may lead to a mutually beneficial exchange at some point in the future (Wolff & Moser, 2009, pp. 196-197). The result of the exchange will eventually influence one’s professional development.
Is networking just about furthering my career? Absolutely No! Most people think of networking as making contacts for a job or business deal (Dattner, 2008). However, networking is not about short-term or temporary connections (Dattner, 2008; Rangwala, 2012). It involves establishing and building professional relationships that one will maintain over a significant period (Porter & Woo, 2015).
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Why should I bother networking? One is expected to network if they are passionate about their field and they crave to be engaged in the discipline. Networking allows individuals to exchange resources with others (e.g., helping one another), and it can provide you with social support, as well as trusted colleagues who you can turn to as a sounding board (Porter & Woo, 2015). A little networking therefore has the potential to expand your contact list exponentially (Porter & Woo, 2015).
Networking for college students.
- Develop an online presence.
Talking to strangers may sometimes be uncomfortable and stretching. The good news is that one can also network from behind a screen. This is where one builds his/ her online presence. One of the best platforms is creating a LinkedIn profile based on your industry (Kohler, 2019).
- Don't be afraid to make the first move
When it comes to building your network, one shouldn’t be afraid to make the first move. Confidence therefore plays a crucial role (Kohler, 2019). One is expected to be genuine. One should genuinely take an interest in those people they are actively interacting with and should attempt to remember important information about them (Kohler, 2019). If experiencing trouble keeping a conversation flowing, one can ask some thoughtful questions like how he/she becomes the CEO of the company (Kohler, 2019).
Networking is more than gaining LinkedIn connections, collecting business cards, and passing out resumes (Kohler, 2019). It takes a lot of effort and one will be required to invest some time in maintaining his/her networks. If one meets someone at a job fair, for example, he/she is expected to shoot them an email afterward (Kohler, 2019). You can also throw in something personal you learned during your conversation to earn points hence showing that you were genuinely listening, and they just might remember you when they're hiring again (Kohler, 2019).
A good number of introverts sometimes feel that the networking field is in a way not built for them to successfully play the game (Autenrieth, 2018). Acts like striking up a conversation with a stranger, and dazzling people with their ease and charm are deemed to be the “perfect” ingredients that seem to be required to win at networking(Autenrieth, 2018). One may ask if there’s any hope for an introvert.
There is hope, especially when we take a closer look at what it means to be introverted (Autenrieth, 2018). For a long time, there have been misperceptions about introverts yet the bottom line is introversion and extraversion merely point to the way individuals prefer to recharge. According to the Myers-Briggs Foundation (2017), introverts tend to build up their energy in a quiet space by themselves, while extroverts get energized when surrounded by people and activities (Autenrieth, 2018). It's important to remember that introversion, just as extraversion, is simply a preference and a tool.
Introverts can network with great success! Below are some of the networking tips for introverts to try.
- Set reasonable expectations
One is expected to enter into a networking event with a plan to save time. One should note that having wrong expectations can derail the value one gets from attending an event (Autenrieth, 2018). Be sure to reflect on what you hope to accomplish and set reasonable expectations according to your capacity (Autenrieth, 2018). Don’t pressure yourself trying to collect 25 business cards in an hour but instead set out to make one or two meaningful connections that may suit you better and prove to be more productive in the long run (Autenrieth, 2018).
The secret here is to be curious, present, and patient. It is important to treat the person in front of you respectfully as though they holds the keys to your breakthrough (Autenrieth, 2018). As an introvert, this display of character won’t be too hard. It is paramount that when one is being spoken to he/she should listen keenly and talk when necessary to avoid interruptions (Autenrieth, 2018). Listening goes a long way since individuals value this trait.
Networking events can sometimes bring out the worst in one’s inner voice. One may begin to feel as though they don’t deserve to be at the event or rather feel that they are boring and no one would want to listen to them (Autenrieth, 2018). Having these thoughts may lower your confidence and make you feel like coming to the event was a mistake (Autenrieth, 2018). It is therefore important to shut the inner critic off. One is expected to remind themselves that they have the needed credentials and the experience to be there and the fact that many people find you interesting (Autenrieth, 2018).
Individuals should fuel up and hydrate as they attend networking events as they can be draining sometimes (Autenrieth, 2018). One can aim for a small meal or a snack with a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats to keep one energized and content. Avoid anything that might compromise your image as a professional like alcohol or having too much wine (Autenrieth, 2018).
What should I not do? One shouldn’t get overwhelmed as one can’t just become a networking guru overnight (Autenrieth, 2018). One shouldn’t forget about social etiquette such as interrupting a presentation to introduce yourself to the speaker (Autenrieth, 2018). You are hence supposed to wait until the presentation is over and follow up with the speaker then.
Social networks
In recent years, social networks have been widely used by millennials mostly in various forms (Mese & Aydin, 2019). The forms chosen can be said to be a matter of preference as each individual is presented with opportunities like sharing content, having fun, communicating, creating community, and learning (Mese & Aydin, 2019). It is therefore important to note that students' social networking usage purposes have an impact on them.
There is a beehive of activities on campus indicating the many offers students life on the campus. There is the presence of intramural sports and clubs, musicals, and school newspapers (Gist, 2019). There are just so many activities one can get involved in depending on a person’s interests. Hence one needs to visit the school’s student center or attend an activities fair to discover everything your college has to offer newspapers (Gist, 2019).
- Don’t be plugged into technology 24/7.
There is a tendency to miss out when one has a habit of constantly looking down at their phone or popping on headphones in newspapers (Gist, 2019). By being hooked up on social media and technology you are simply alienating other students who might want you to join in on different activities hence classmates might similarly ignore you instead of starting up a conversation (Gist, 2019).
Another way of boosting one's social life in college is getting a student job. This kind of student job acts as an opportunity to make new friends and meet new people and also a chance to make a little extra which may be useful in the long run (Gist, 2019).
This is one of the profound ways to survive in college. We definitely cannot survive without help from a colleague. Knowing people means you can rely on them for notes, group projects, and other school-related activities (Gist, 2019). This is also helpful as it introduces you to a whole new group of people that you wouldn’t necessarily have known had you kept quiet, not to mention that it may make the class a little less boring (Gist, 2019).
In the hiring process, employers tend to check social media more often. They are actively utilizing social media as a way to dig deeper into job applicants' qualifications. In today’s job market, it's therefore critical that one’s social media presence paints him/her as a model citizen and someone a hiring manager would want to bring on board (Autenrieth, 2018).
Once you've got your social media presence one shouldn’t just relax and wait but it’s upon them to actively seek out employers and engage with them (Autenrieth, 2018). Using social media to find a job is very possible! What is needed is for one to make sure they are using social networking as a means to engage with potential employers online (Autenrieth, 2018). The following tips may help.
LinkedIn is considered the ideal medium for connecting with professionals who work at your target company without ever meeting them in person (Autenrieth, 2018).
It offers the perfect platform for reaching out and connecting with individuals who hold the key to thousands of job opportunities. One can search by company, title, or any number of factors to find the professionals who can help them get an interview or even a job (Autenrieth, 2018).
Once you locate the right individuals, it's okay to reach out to them. You can leave a note requesting of your desire to talk to the person about working at their company. To entice them you can reference work they've done that impressed you (Autenrieth, 2018). You can also ask questions about the job and the company. Keep conversing with them until you land that first interview.
Twitter offers dozens of avenues to discover content. It is a place where one can present oneself as a thought leader assess potential employers' company culture and also make valuable connections with other professionals (Autenrieth, 2018).
For a start, one can research target companies to see if they are recruiting so that one may follow their handle and keep tabs on what's being posted (Autenrieth, 2018). This allows you to connect with recruiters, thought leaders, and relevant hiring managers who work at the target companies. You can start in stealth mode by just liking, retweeting, and engaging with their posts (Autenrieth, 2018). The secret here though is not overdoing it as one would appear a crazed fan which isn’t good.
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