If you ask a professional how to advance your career or find the best job opportunities, they'll tell you to start networking. Employers don't always hire the person with the most qualifications or experience. Oftentimes, they hire someone they know or someone who comes highly recommended by a colleague. For this reason, online networking is usually crucial for your professional development and job searches.
Getting Started with Networking
.Before you start online networking, you should know that it's not as easy as it sounds. Sure, you probably understand how it works. But taking action is another story. Most people attempt to network but don't get much of anywhere.
For various reasons, online networking is intimidating. Even if you're savvy with Facebook and Instagram, you may not know how to connect with people on a professional level. There's more to this type of networking than clicking on an "add friend" button. Fortunately, there are three simple steps that break down online networking and can get you headed in the right direction.
1. Reach Out to Everyone
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to only network with people you know. While you should reach out to your acquaintances on social media, don't stop there. The whole point of networking is to expand your circle, which means you need to connect with people you don't know.
When you reach out to someone you don't know, an amazing thing happens. You join a new network that is likely to bring you some new job opportunities. Because the individual you connect with has other connections, they will know about opportunities you might otherwise never hear about.
How do you network with people you don't know? Start with your extended family and then move on to the people from your college and high school. Then, look for people who used to or currently work with your former employers. Although some of these people won't choose to accept and be part of your network, many of them will.
Explain Your Intentions
When you first reach out to someone, explain who you are and why you're connecting with them. For instance, you might tell a former coworker that you enjoyed your time together and would love to stay in touch.
Whatever you do, don't ask them for a job. Even if you're only networking to find a new job, that shouldn't be how you introduce yourself. Initiate a conversation by saying how you know them and what you have in common. In the future, there will be a time for you to announce the job search.
2. Get Involved
When you send a short message or friend request, you are only making an introduction. For your network to be effective, you must engage with your connections. When someone from your network posts an article or shares a story, respond to it.
While clicking a like button is effective, it's even better to have active discussions. When you comment on an article, add something of value to it. You want the person who posted the content to notice you. Even if you never met them, the individual will have you on their mind.
When you engage with others, always keep it professional. Don't comment on political posts or argue for the sake of arguing. If you have a professional opinion about something, share it but don't get into a virtual shouting match. You could develop a bad reputation, in which case your network could keep you from finding work. When you go for an interview, the hiring manager might remember an embarrassing outburst.
Show Up in Person
Once in a while, leave the safety of your desk and show up to an event. If someone in your network posts about an industry event or is looking for volunteers, take action. Show them that you're a doer and are eager to get involved.
These days, you may not even need to leave your room. If someone is having a virtual event, join in on it. Be sure to comment and show your participation, or your presence will go unnoticed.
3. Share Your Excitement
As part of your networking, create and share your own content. There are a few ways you can go about this, so do what you're comfortable with.
If you're a great writer, start up your own blog and create professional content. For those who don't enjoy writing, share interesting content that you come across. You can scour industry blogs, press releases, and news sites for shareable stories.
Your posts teach the people in your network about you. When you share your passions, you connect with your network on a deeper level. Whether or not you ever meet an individual, they might feel like they know you.
For the most successful results, be authentic. Don't show people what you think they want to see, and instead, be yourself. If your news feed only has content that looks like it was carefully picked, people will notice. You should be real and showcase who you truly are.
Of course, you don't want to venture into the realm of the unprofessional. If there's a topic you wouldn't discuss in the workplace, don't discuss it online. The same is true of your pictures. There's nothing wrong with sharing pictures, unless they are unprofessional and paint you in a bad light. Consider sharing things like learning a new language, fixing up an old car, or eating healthier.
If you post the right content, people may ask to join your network. Crafting a strong social media presence is an easy way to network, because minimal effort can get excellent results. If you become a valuable poster, people will be eager to be a part of your network.
Ready, Set, Network
Eventually, your network will help you. When you need a new job, you can post about it and an individual might come to you with an opportunity. Or, they may put in a good word for you when you go on a job interview.