Networking is one of those things that probably makes most people inwardly cringe when it’s brought up. You picture that classic scene – you’re at a work event or conference, people are mingling, chatting up clients, competitors or future co-workers. Everyone seems to have that natural small-talk nailed and they work their way through the room of strangers happily with a drink in hand.
A living nightmare?
Mine too!
But what if I told you it didn’t have to look like that? After reading Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans last year my networking outlook totally changed.
On a side note, I’d really recommend this book. These guys apply product design principles to life and career planning.
Networking can look very very different to that picture we painted above. Check out it out:
#1
Networking is simply a method of finding out what other people do, how they do it and how they got there! Do you want a job or career change? Have you moved to a new area and want to see what opportunities are available? Networking is essentially gaining as much information as possible from people in order to help you make career decisions.
You’re not asking for a job, you’re not asking to be introduced to someone, you just want information about their career.
Not sure if a role is what you imagine it to be? Sit down with someone in that role and ask them! Useful questions to ask are: what their job entails, their day-to-day, skills they think help them, how they got into the role, would they recommend the company they work for?
Recalibrate ‘networking’ into ‘information gathering’. Mindset changed and less intimidated? Me too.
#2
You can network from the safety of your own sofa. It has never been easier to connect with people, and the ability to video call is a unique opportunity to dial down the seriousness and talk to professionals around the world and at any time of the day. Suddenly a room full of people in suits has shrunk down to an informal chat with someone on Zoom – and I’m all for it.
#3
Approaching someone to network is 1000% easier online. As simple as:
“Hi, I’m Alice. I’m an equine vet and I am reaching out because I am really interested in your career path. I would love to learn more about your role as a ___ and wondered if you’d like to meet up over a virtual coffee to chat about it?”
Literally as easy as that – either email if you have their email address or just a simple LinkedIn Message if you don’t. This article has some great email templates you can use too.
#4
85% of jobs are filled through networking (according to HubSpot) and 70-80% of jobs aren’t even advertised publicly. In addition, according to a study done by LinkedIn in 2017, 35% of participants said a casual conversation through LinkedIn Messaging lead to a new opportunity
Need I say more?
#5
People love to feel useful! Throw away that niggling feeling that you’re being a nuisance asking someone for their time; people love being asked about their experiences and opinions – it’s flattering! If someone feels like you chose them specifically for their expertise, they too might come to you first when needing yours if the situation arose.
Conclusion
Feel a bit differently about networking now? I hope so! Be brave, put yourself out there and who knows what opportunities might arise because of it.
ThisVetCan 