Ask EDN Question:

Professionally, is it necessary to be a good networker? I have yet to get a job, promotion, or raise because of my networking skills. My work speaks for itself.

I also hate networking. I don’t know what you talk to people about and you can only talk about the weather for so long! Every time I force myself to go to an event, I end up sitting at the bar reading articles by myself waiting for the friend that I came with to finish up. I just don’t see the point. It doesn’t feel genuine! So I guess I’m wondering if it’s necessary professionally and if so how you do it effectively.

Response:

Dear Reader:

Thank you for your very important question! These days, moving ahead professionally is a lot about who you know in addition to your experience, education, and/or quality of work. While networking can be awkward and difficult at times, it is essential for advancing your career and professional development. There are many benefits of professional networking, including career advancement, access to resources, sharing your ideas, and learning about new ones. When done effectively, connecting with others through networking can open doors to many opportunities, beyond what you would be able to access based on your credentials. You are not alone in your distaste for networking, but don’t worry, we have some tips on how to effectively network so you can enjoy it and experience the benefits of professional networking. The PD Team received some great advice from people on our different social media platforms on how to effectively network and we incorporated their feedback in our response.

It is important to realize that networking can happen at any time with anyone and it is not solely limited to networking events. Networking can happen through a conversation on the train or with a coworker at the water cooler. What is most important when networking is making a connection with the other person and that connection does not have to be limited to professional interests. You can connect with someone on many different levels, including skills, hobbies, and experience. Talk about something you are comfortable with, which will make the conversation less awkward and more memorable. For example, you can talk about recent travels, favorite podcasts, where you went to school, etc.  Also, when networking, do not shy away from expressing your interests and career goals. If the other person is not aware of your career goals, they can only do so much in helping you advance professionally.

If you have a specific goal in mind networking should be intentional. Are you trying to get a new job? Learn more about a specific topic? Connect with experts in your field? Get on a specific project at work? Once you decide what your intentions are, you can seek out events or other networking opportunities that will help you in reaching your goals. For example, you may want to attend networking events geared specifically toward your field versus more general networking events. Attending an event and walking up to strangers and starting a conversation can be pretty intimidating. In these instances, try beginning  with a conversation starter in mind (e.g. “What brings you to this event?”), which can help with establishing common interests. If you’re at an event alone and do not know anyone in the room, look for someone else who is also alone and engage them in a conversation. As suggested by someone on Instagram, a conversation starter could be “These networking events can be so crazy. Do you mind if I join you over here where it’s a little quieter?”

It is important to remember networking does not only have to be limited to in person interactions. There are a number of online platforms including LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Facebook, and Twitter, that can be used for networking purposes. These sites can be just as effective for networking as in-person events. If using these online sites for career purposes, especially Twitter and Facebook, the content on your profiles should be employer-friendly and accurately reflect your personal brand. Online networking also provides you the opportunity to expand your professional network beyond your local area. When sending the initial message or Tweet, just as in person networking, you want to make sure to add a personal touch and connect through common interests.

Check out the “Noteworthy Links” section of this month’s newsletter for some additional resources related to professional networking.

Best of Luck,
EDN PD

If you would like to ask the EDN PD Team a question, you can do so here.