I'm sure you have heard the phrase, "it's who you know, not what you know" at some point in your career or life. Although what you know is still very important, who you know, in some cases, might matter even more.
Of course, education and experience are very valuable to help determine what jobs we are qualified for and with what companies. Education and experience are hard skills and while many other qualified candidates might have similar qualifications as you, connecting with the right people will help you to stand out, possibly to the point that employers will seek you out with opportunities. Not only that, you’ll prove to employers that you have the ability to connect and interact with others to drive business.
Below are a few networking tips:
● Meet others through referrals: either virtually using tools like Linkedin, or at in-person networking events, stick around a group of people you know during events and join their conversation.
● Use your resume: asking for advice about your resume is a great way to start a conversation and bring up your 5 year plan.
● Don't ask for a job: your main goal when networking is to build a relationship and rapport so when an opportunity arises, your contact may be willing to refer you .
● Let the other person speak: if you are like me, I tend to talk a lot when I'm nervous, but it's crucial that you actively listen and ask follow up questions to keep the conversation going.
● Don't take too much time: remember that their time is valuable so be sure to have an agenda and stay on track.
The power of networking has significantly more weight now than ever before because of competition in particular fields. It's almost impossible to succeed or land your perfect job without making connections. We need others around us to collaborate, learn from, and help guide us to success.
Sun Janjanam, Manager (Tampa Branch)
Eden Resources, LLC
Comments