By Lailatul Fitriyah Matsaini
Some hate it, some might love it. But one thing that we can all agree is that networking is a crucial skill that one must have.
Networking is not about whether “you have it” or “you do not”. But it is a skill that you have to develop over time. According to Herminia Ibarra, an economist and professor at London Business School, networking is not a natural gift for extroverts, but rather a skill that you must practice regularly.
In his 20 years of teaching about how to build and use networks more effectively, Ibarra found that the biggest barrier that people face are the mindset that networking skill is not for everyone. If people believe that networking skill can be developed gradually, chances are, they are more likely to be motivated to improve this skill and get better at it.
Now, how to network effectively and achieve greater result? Here are some tidbits on networking tips I am sharing with you before you grab your purse and go.
#1 Find networking opportunities in your area.
Some people do not know where to find a networking event. When I first started my networking hunting, I have a hard time finding any networking opportunities. If I came across a friend who invited me to come to his or her event, then I was lucky enough to go. But more often than not, my email is loaded with lots of assignments from my classmates, or worse, sales from any makeup or apparel brands. With applications like Eventbrite and Peatix, they can help you in finding networking event according to your own preferences. These applications can specifically target what you are actually seeking for. Pick your city, category, industry, and search for the event that interest you. Then, you are all set and go.
#2 Arrive at the event early.
Arriving late on the event would make approaching a group of people who are actively talking seems a bit more intimidating. People already started socialising as soon as they arrived at the place. You do not want to abrupt people who are in the middle of a discussion, do you? Hence, be at the place as early as possible and try to blend in with the surrounding. Do not be afraid to initiate the conversation as they are also looking for someone to talk to. If you keep yourself quiet at one place, you might have missed a lot of opportunities in getting to know new people.
#3 Focus on your purpose.
I noticed some people would bring their friends on the day of the event. Do not get me wrong, you can bring your friends as many as you want. But if that friend feels too uncomfortable to leave you or too nervous that they only want to talk to you, then, be prepared with a possibility that they could lessen your chance of mingling around new people. Yes, networking can be scary at times, but it is important to understand the focus of networking – to meet new people and connect with them. If you think that by bringing a friend could ease your jitter, think again why you are there in the first place.
#4 Do not just collect or pass business cards.
I saw a friend of mine passed more than 20 business cards to many people, but that did not help him in maintaining any of his networks. Networking is not about passing or collecting as many business cards as possible. Rather, it is about creating a network and retaining them. In the game of networking, you are going for quality, not quantity. It is better to have two new friends than getting half of the hall but the relationship ends up nowhere.
#5 Be empathetic and interested.
Here is a networking caveat: let other people speak first. You have two ears and one mouth. Thus, use that according to its proportion. The key to make a great first impression is by being curious. People love to talk about themselves. Ask a lot of questions and show interest to that person. The more curious you become, the more interesting you are to that person. Keep in mind that relationship works only if it is coming from two-way communication.
#6 Do a follow up after the event.
You had a good laugh and conversation on the networking event. What is next? Too often people make mistakes by letting the connection stops until the event comes to an end. How about keeping the fire alive by doing a follow up with your networking friends? Reach out to your new friends through email or call within a week after the event. Thank them for the opportunity of getting to know them and invite them for a lunch or coffee whenever both of you are free. You might not know that by keeping the relationship alive, your network will come in handy when you are in trouble one day.
#7 Practice, practice, and practice!
We all get it; networking will never be comfortable to many people, especially to introverts. Remember the old adage, practice makes perfect? The more you network, the easier it would become. Just like riding a bike for the first time, you need to practice from time to time before you take off those four wheels. Do not rush in developing your networking skill. If you are a newbie, set a goal to at least have one new contact for one event. Then, take a further step by adding more networks after your first one.
#8 Stop expecting too much.
Alright, you have that good CGPA in hands, good outfit, and a lot of skills to offer. The only thing you need right now is a job offer from these people, then, you are all done. Should be easy for you, right? If you think that way, then I am sorry to disappoint you that you are totally wrong. Going to a networking event with an intention to get a job offer would hurt you later. People often overlook the notion of networking. People go to the networking event to create a meaningful relationship, whilst landing a new job comes last. They might not be useful for you now, but they might need you in the near future.
So, the next time you sign up for a networking event, go with these eight tips, ready to create a good conversation and expand your connection! ***