You’ve probably heard it all before. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. If you’ve really been in on the game you’ve probably also heard, “it’s not what you know, but who knows you”. There are networking tips that stand the test of time and it can be difficult to jump in and get your feet wet when you don’t know what you’re doing… yet.
So what’s the deal with networking anyway?
When it comes to networking, the most important thing for you to remember is that you’re not going out of your way to meet people so you can get things. You are trying to make connections that can build and become relationships. My first real networking experience happened in college. I was at a point where I wanted to meet other people who were in the career fields I aspired to be in. I was a college student, and like any student I really needed to get some experience.
I was a part of an engineering program called Maximizing Engineering Potential and one of the things they really nailed down for us was how to network. This included making business cards, collecting business cards, writing follow up emails, dressing the part – literally all of the things! I was fortunate enough that one of my first real connections was with someone who not only saw my potential as a student, but who also saw how they could positively impact my life. What started as a networking connection turned into a relationship.
Remember to play your position!
People will always remember first impressions. The first impression is that first handshake, that exchange of business cards, the elevator pitch.. You name it, there is a first impression being made in those moments. You already know that networking isn’t about getting things from people, but it would be dishonest to gloss over the fact that there are people you can connect with that can give you opportunities that you couldn’t get on your own.
There are people who are indeed in a higher position than you. That doesn’t mean you should put them up on a pedestal that’s so untouchable that you can’t even talk to them. They are human just like you, and just like you they also had to start somewhere! Make the connection. Be calm and cool. Be yourself and play your position. Once you make that connection and send out that follow up, the ball is in their court and now it’s their turn to return the favor.
It’s okay to let people surprise you.
There are some connections that may amount to a reference or or answered questions. You never know what else could happen though. Networking doesn’t have to be something with strict rules all of the time. Remember that connection I mentioned earlier? When the ball was in their court, they invited me and my sister to volunteer at the Women’s Health Expo. What does that have to do with engineering you ask? Pretty much nothing except there was going to be someone there who just so happened to be a VP and me and my sister were going to get personally introduced to her.
When you say you are going to show up, actually show up!
You can miss out on so many connections by not keeping your word. I made a 100% guarantee that I was going to show up to that expo first because I enjoyed volunteering, but second because this could be a great opportunity and a way for me to meet someone that I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. The pieces were coming together and I was in a great position. I let my connection surprise me and when I said I was going to show up I did just that.
The impressions and opinions of you don’t end at that first interaction. Let’s say you get a second chance to make a good impression. Take that and run with it. See what other ways you can connect with this person. Do they run a nonprofit? Do they volunteer with other organizations? Are they connected to other people you want to meet? Get creative and when they throw you a bone don’t be afraid to go ahead and catch it. You are playing your position and sometimes that does mean letting people do for you.
Don’t forget to make the most of your opportunities.
This is a slight tangent, but if you are reading this as a college student you are in your prime time for networking. People will literally come out of the woodwork to help you! College campuses are great because there are usually alumni that are looking to give back to their communities and help future generations succeed.
If you’re not in college you can still make the most of your time. Don’t be afraid to actually go out to networking events. Start a LinkedIn if you haven’t already! I know it’s not the most popular app out there, but if you need help building a professional network, that’s a great place to do it. Last but not least, don’t be afraid to let your needs be known! Closed mouths don’t get fed and it’s up to you to be as bold and specific as possible. If anyone is going to get the right opportunities, it might as well be you!
“What if I don’t know what to do? What if I choke?”
First of all calm down and take some deep breaths. You are totally okay and it’s okay to be nervous. I recently was a panelist for a student leadership conference and one of the cool things I got to do was speak directly to the students. I could see myself in them and I could remember the days where I was trying to network and didn’t know where to start. One thing I told one of the students was that you can still be yourself while you’re networking! It’s easy to assume that you have to be extroverted in order to make networking work. I am a pretty introverted person so I am typically not the loudest person in the room.
You want to present your full and honest self because you want people to know who you are. Besides the goals for an internship or a new job opportunity, your potential connections need to know who you are. You would never enter any full relationship (romantic, professional, or platonic) without getting a good understanding of who the person is. The same can be said for networking. You want to make the right connections for your personal journey. Quality over quantity is still a thing.
Why Networking Will Never Go Out of Style
I credit where I am in my career to my networking and the connections that I’ve been able to make. I can see all the parts of my journey and I have so much appreciation for all of the people who saw something in me and decided to help me. Networking is universal and it even applies to things outside of work. Networking is still applicable even on social media. Being a content creator, I am always open to making new connections with other creators and learning new things. The lessons I’ve learned from my networking experiences help me to be more intentional with the connections I make.
Not all opportunities that are offered to you will be right for you. Not everyone who approaches you will have pure intentions. This is where I would get into my story about almost being pulled into an Amway scheme with a networking connection that I thought was going to be helpful to my career. It’s probably better for a separate post, but long story short, the connection seemed good at first, but I quickly learned that their intentions weren’t what I thought they were.
Networking doesn’t have to be black and white and everyone has their own process and their own journey that they need to go through. Trust that your process is happening the way that it’s supposed to. Do you have any other questions about networking or underrated tips of your own? Let me know and leave a comment. Networking is a great skill to have and the more we can learn how to make it work, the better off we’ll be.