Networking is the process of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with people working in and around your industry. It involves meeting and interacting (online or offline) with people who have similar interests and can help you in return.
Networking allows you to have a new perspective, get career advice, gain confidence, raise your profile and get new career opportunities. If you're looking for a new job or making a career transition, a strong network allows you to shortlist opportunities that match your profile more quickly. It also allows you to hear from people who are going through the same journey as you or have been in your shoes before.
Now the question arises, how do I start networking? Some of the steps that you can take to start your networking journey are briefly discussed below:
Reaching out to people through LinkedIn and Cold Emailing is the classic of all times.
If you like someone's work or profile and find a mutual friend between you two, don't shy away from asking the friend to introduce you to that person.
Attending events, webinars and workshops, and participating in societies and fests also allows you to network with people of shared interests. You can also leverage social media and join networking communities and use LinkedIn Alumni Connect.
When reaching out to people try to keep your message short and crisp as you don't want to scare them off with a long text or leave your message unread. Following up in an appropriate manner is alright, just make sure you're not spamming them.
1 in 10 people might respond, so don't take offence or lose hope. Keep your networking journey going because you never know 1 reply can be a gamechanger for you.
Last but not the least, keep the relationship mutually beneficial, write them a LinkedIn recommendation, promote their content or ask them how can you help them in return.
Networking is the process of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with people working in and around your industry. It involves meeting and interacting (online or offline) with people who have similar interests and can help you in return.
Networking allows you to have a new perspective, get career advice, gain confidence, raise your profile and get new career opportunities. If you're looking for a new job or making a career transition, a strong network allows you to shortlist opportunities that match your profile more quickly. It also allows you to hear from people who are going through the same journey as you or have been in your shoes before.
Now the question arises, how do I start networking? Some of the steps that you can take to start your networking journey are briefly discussed below:
Reaching out to people through LinkedIn and Cold Emailing is the classic of all times.
If you like someone's work or profile and find a mutual friend between you two, don't shy away from asking the friend to introduce you to that person.
Attending events, webinars and workshops, and participating in societies and fests also allows you to network with people of shared interests. You can also leverage social media and join networking communities and use LinkedIn Alumni Connect.
When reaching out to people try to keep your message short and crisp as you don't want to scare them off with a long text or leave your message unread. Following up in an appropriate manner is alright, just make sure you're not spamming them.
1 in 10 people might respond, so don't take offence or lose hope. Keep your networking journey going because you never know 1 reply can be a gamechanger for you.
Last but not the least, keep the relationship mutually beneficial, write them a LinkedIn recommendation, promote their content or ask them how can you help them in return.
Some of the platforms for networking are:
· LinkedIn, an all-time classic
· CoffeeMug
· BNI
Women Specific Platforms:
· Leap Club
· Aspire For Her
· Entreprenaari
For a more comprehensive understanding we have industry experts with us conducting one to one mentorship sessions.
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