You can be the most accomplished professional, but you’d still need a strong, professional network to rely on. When you have a lot of people within your reach, it’s much easier to advance your own career, and possibly help those around you. In many cultures, networking is considered an integral part of one’s work experience, which is why young job-seekers are often required to be endorsed by someone more influential. Therefore, if you’re committed to growing your career, then here are some expert tips that will help you build a strong professional network.
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Establish and cultivate your online presence
Your online presence speaks a lot about your professional intent and business capabilities. The first thing most recruiters will do is look you up online. Therefore, it’s important to establish and cultivate your online presence to further your career. That typically includes an active LinkedIn profile, visibility on other social media platforms, and in many instances, your own website. If the website isn’t an option, then feel free to find the best platform to showcase your accomplishments, and thus create an interesting portfolio.
Stay in touch with people
An online presence is crucial, but it also requires you to get and remain in touch with people. Reaching out, commenting, liking, and sharing will help you remain in focus. If you’re committed to building your own network, then it’s important to stay in touch with people who are supposed to be a part of your inner circle. The good news is that communication doesn’t need to be strictly about business, but it should always be politically neutral, engaging, and compelling.
Also, wishing people a happy work anniversary or congratulating them for succeeding is a great way to remain in touch and spread positive energy.
Use various helpful tools
There are numerous tools that can help you build and sustain your professional network. These tools will help you organize your contacts, and keep them in one place, which will make it easier for you to find them in the future. Gmail CRM is the best place to start, since it’s so widely accepted and popular, and with the right synchronization tools, it’s possible to share Google contacts and address books the same way you share your Google documents. This is convenient if you want to have your contacts’ details safely stored in one place. Using every tool or software at your disposal will help you establish and sustain your network.
Invest in your self-growth
Self-growth and professional growth go hand in hand. One of the ways to invest in your own growth is to complete various certifications. Those certificates will help you meet new people, and further expand your professional network. Also, if you consider yourself a bit shy or introverted, it’s essential to practice your social skills. Contrary to a popular belief, small talk is an excellent way to be more talkative and open up to people more. Polishing your professional, social and intellectual skills can only benefit your life.
Don’t be a try-hard
If you try too hard, too fast, that might cause a completely opposite effect. Simply, having a balance when it comes to connecting and remaining in touch is important. People do make the network, however, those people often have their own preferences and boundaries that need to be respected. Hence, being too pushy won’t get you very far: rushing things in order to achieve anything can be detrimental to your professional prospects. Business connections and potential corporations tend to happen as your relationships progressively develop.
Attend events related to your career
This one is crucial if you’re aiming to meet new people in order to build your professional network. Being present in person and shaking hands is still more effective than reaching out online. Therefore, being aware of the events in your area and attending them will likely help you expand your network and boost your career. If you’re surrounded by like-minded people, it will be easier to arrange business meetings and set up potential cooperation. Also, while being there and talking to people, be sure to listen carefully rather than wait your turn to speak. Being interested and listening to others is a skill that can help you a lot if you use it to your advantage.
Final thoughts
You deserve to have the career of your dreams, and building a professional network is a helpful way to make that happen. These expert tips will help you along the way, especially if you remain assertive, communicative, balanced, and professional.
