Networking 101: Creating a Networking Strategy
This post is part of our Networking 101 series for college students, new grads, someone looking to re-enter the workforce, or anyone looking for ways to expand their professional networks.
In our first Networking 101 post, we talked about why professional networking is important to anyone’s career, and shared the importance of maintaining an active LinkedIn profile for networking.
As of 2023, LinkedIn has 900 million users - WOW. With so many potential professionals to learn from and connect with, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the platform and give up. In this post, we’ll guide you through building your networking strategy so that your efforts are intentional on LinkedIn or out in the wild, and you feel confident setting up time with people you want to stay connected to long term.
Guiding Questions to Build a Networking Strategy
Sometimes building a network can seem like fishing. If you just cast a wide enough net, you’ll likely catch a couple fish. But networking shouldn’t be about quantity, it should be about the quality of your connections. You have limited time and energy to put towards networking, so you need to make the most of that time and focus your efforts on building genuine connections with folks you want to stay connected to long term.
Imagine Oprah saying “You get a connection request!”
Before you start sending out LinkedIn connection requests to every person you interact with, ask yourself a few of the following questions to guide your networking strategy: who you’ll reach out to, which communities to join, and what you can provide in return. By asking yourself these questions, you’ll be able to make the most of your limited networking time.
First, determine your value add.
Good networking is about building mutually beneficial relationships, so think about what you can offer to the people you meet.
Ask yourself: What support, resources, opportunities, knowledge, or value can I provide to the people I meet?
Overall, the key is to think about how you can be of help to the people you meet, rather than just focusing on what you can gain from the relationship. This list can be wide-ranging, but here are some examples if you’re unsure of what you can offer:
Offer to share your expertise on a particular subject with someone who may benefit from it. This could be as simple as providing advice on a project they're working on or introducing them to a resource they may not be aware of.
If you have connections in your industry, consider introducing someone you've met to someone else who may be able to help them in their career.
Share relevant articles, blog posts, or other resources that you come across that may be of interest to the people you've met.
If you have skills or services that may be useful to someone in your network, consider offering them at a discounted rate or even for free.
Volunteer your time or expertise to help someone with a project or task they're working on.
If you attend an event or conference, offer to share your notes or takeaways with someone who wasn't able to attend.
Pic credit: Austin @ Unsplash
Second, ask yourself what type of connections you’re looking for.
Am I looking for a peer network?
Peers are people who are in positions that are similar or slightly above your own, but generally at a similar point in their career. You could call upon your peer network for career advice and to bounce ideas off of when you get stuck at work.
Am I hoping to surround myself with people who share similar identities to me?
Many communities exist to serve people who share a similar identity like women of color in tech or Black product managers.
Am I looking for inspirational leaders, mentors, or subject matter experts to learn from?
These people might be in roles you’re interested in pursuing later in your career, and you hope to learn how they navigated their career to get where they are today.
Do I want to build relationships with recruiters and hiring managers?
Perhaps you’re currently in school, or happily employed and casually interested in companies for the future. It’s never a bad idea to have a few recruiters or hiring managers in your network! While a new job might not materialize from the interaction immediately, you never know when something might come across their plates that fits your skills and prompts them to reach out.
As you build your career and network, you'll naturally connect with people from all of these categories. That’s great! As you’re being intentional in the beginning, asking yourself these questions will help you determine where to spend your limited networking time and energy.
Third, consider some logistical questions.
How much effort am I willing to put in to networking?
You might feel comfortable meeting people over Zoom, from the comforts of your home, and less comfortable showing up at an in-person meetup with strangers.
Similarly, how much time and energy do I have for networking?
It's important to consider how much time and energy you have to dedicate to networking without neglecting other important areas of your life. For example, if you have a busy work schedule or family obligations, you may need to adjust your networking strategy accordingly, such as attending virtual events instead of in-person events or scheduling networking meetings during non-work hours. Networking can feel like it’s own job, and it’s a good practice to build it into your weekly, monthly, or quarterly goals, so that it stays manageable and not overwhelming.
What’s my budget for networking?
Oftentimes, companies will provide employees with professional development or learning and development stipends to use towards the costly entrance tickets to industry events or professional conferences. If that’s you, be sure to use your funds! If this isn’t an option for you, determine how much of your own money you’re willing to put towards building your professional network through events.
With so many social media groups, events, and people to connect with, networking can be overwhelming and intimidating. Pausing to ask yourself these key questions about your value add, what type of person you’d like to connect with, and logistically how much energy you’re willing to put towards networking will absolutely help you shape your networking strategy and make the most of your networking time.
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