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Professional Networking

Professional networking is like building your own team of hype people, mentors and even friends. You’re forming authentic, genuine connections with others, so that when the need arises, you have someone who can offer up advice, new opportunities or a new way to look at a problem.

What Is Networking and Why Is It Important?

At its core, professional networking is the art of building meaningful connections that foster growth and advancement, not to mention greater status and clout. It’s also one of the best ways to find a job.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of all jobs are found through networking. In other words, if you’re not networking, you’re missing out on nearly three-fourth of all the job opportunities out there. When you think of it this way, you soon realize it’s about so much more than handshakes and small talk. You’re acquiring knowledge and building relationships, opening doors, learning from mistakes and successes, and ensuring you stay visible for important career opportunities for advancement, increased compensation and more. Plus, on the flip side, you’re helping others by sharing your own knowledge.

Who Should You Network With?

Who you network with depends on where you might be in your career. After all, the average fresh-out-of-college young adult has a fairly different network than someone who’s been out in the working world for 20 years. If you’re not sure where to start, try thinking of your network in terms of the following groups:

Primary connections
These are the people who you work or meet with every day — everyone from educators and co-workers to vendors, consultants and customers. If you have a strong relationship with someone, chances are they’re in this category.
Secondary connections
Even if you’ve only interacted with someone in a fairly limited capacity professionally, it still helps to add them to your contacts. You never know when their expertise or their network might be beneficial to you — or vice versa.
Acquaintances
Everyone else you’ve encountered in your career, whether in person, virtually or otherwise, can go into this third bucket. You may not see or hear from them frequently, but it’s super easy to add their info to your contacts or connect on social media — so why risk missing out?
“Should connect with”
This group is aspirational. Identify individuals in an industry you’re interested in, no matter how lofty or famous they may feel to you. Look up experts in your field that you’d love to bump into at a conference someday. You may not know these individuals yet, and may never meet them in person, but having them in mind and following their work as you approach and navigate your own career can still be very valuable.

How and Where To Network

OK, so after all this research, you understand the importance of networking. Now, where should you start? Lucky for you, there are many ways to connect with others. Meeting in person is an obvious one, but where? If you’re in high school or college, ask your teachers or counselors about career and college fairs.

If you’ve already landed your first job, search for in-person professional meetups or online events, like webinars, that are related to your skill set and career goals. Digital platforms and social media also offer a wealth of networking opportunities; just be sure to do your research and make sure the information you’re getting is coming from accredited sources.


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