Whether you work for a corporation or as an entrepreneur, establishing your professional network is essential to your success and growth. Keeping in touch with your connections is like tending to a garden. It may take time and you may not see results at first, but your extra care will pay off in the end. The earlier in your career you begin to grow your network, the better. However, it’s never too late to rebuild your connections. Take it from someone starting a new venture after three decades in the same career!
The Benefits of Networking
As human beings we all want to feel connected to others. And when it comes to developing our career or business, it’s critical to build a network of people with similar and different skills, and varying kinds of experience across multiple disciplines. A strong network will lead to more connections and could eventually help you get hired or start a new business.
Sure, you can google your way to a new gig, but your connections can potentially bring you a new opportunity that no job search engine will uncover. Frequently, jobs aren’t listed publicly, or the competition is so fierce, you need an extra boost to get your resume to the top of the pile. When I wanted to start a new role, I searched on my own for many months without any success. Then, I turned to my network, and soon, I had a new job. If it weren’t for my connections, I’d have never gotten an interview, let alone been hired.
A professional network is the bloodline of anyone’s career and business development process. You can utilize your connections’ personal and professional experiences, ask for advice, find jobs not yet broadcasted publicly, get introduced to other connections, and get short referral feedback on LinkedIn. Additionally, connecting to experienced people in your field could provide new ideas for you to explore. The best part? There’s almost no cost to you except for your time.
LinkedIn is a great place to build, track, and stay in touch with your connections. Get in the habit of adding a connection whenever you’re working with a new colleague or meet an experienced business entrepreneur. One thing to note: LinkedIn doesn’t allow you to have access to other members’ contact info, so it’s best to ask directly for your critical connections' email addresses.
Dos and Don’ts of Building a Professional Network
Do...
Start adding connections early on in your career using LinkedIn or another tool.
Collect important contact info such as email address separately from LinkedIn.
Stay in touch with your critical connections throughout the year. Send personal notes once in a while, and if possible, arrange for a short talk maybe once a year.
Send a personal, genuine, and private one-line note to your connections when they get a promotion or switch to a different job or company.
Attend work or social events that allow you to socialize with your network, even if it takes a bit of your personal time.
Ask someone to write a short review for you on LinkedIn, if you know them well. Be prepared to return the favor.
Follow up and close the loop if one of your connections messages or contacts you.
Don't...
Add a LinkedIn connection if you don’t really know them well. It may help you look like you have a ton of colleagues, but it’s not productive and will only clog your feed.
Send a generic one-word response, like “Congratulations,” for instance. It’s ineffective and could be construed as dismissive.
Use any of your connections as references without permission.
Reach out to one of your connections after many years without contact and ask if they will support you in a job search or interview.
Promise to help a connection when you’re not in a position to do so.
Your connections could bring an opportunity that you may have never known existed. Start building your network today and stay connected.