Hello There,

In our various career paths, networking is rather important. It does not only aid in building and maintaining your career, but also aids in advancing your career. However, the challenge we often face is networking effectively at the right time.

Here are five tips to assist you with networking while making the best of your precious time.

 

1. Slow Down

Networking takes time and effort, and although this point might initially sound counter-intuitive, but let’s put this point under a spotlight and analyze it. It is often said that the only thing that is more important than being efficient is being effective. Being effective therefore infers that you have to focus on building the relationships and then invest your time in doing this. Therefore, you have to respect the process. You cannot expect to drop by a networking event, announce your business, leave and then expect results. The secret to this is slowing down and taking your time to build up trust with people and then giving them time to know you. It’s a process.

 

2. Offer To Help

Try and give something to your co-workers and colleagues. Something tangible, like a skill you could offer effortlessly; it could be something as simple as proofreading the articles they write for the company in your spare time, or bringing in coffee for that colleague of yours that is always too stressed and overwhelmed with their eyes constantly glued to their system. It could also be a referral, getting them articles that apply to challenges they are facing work wise etc. However, the one and only way this would help you network with your colleagues is if this is genuine.

 

3. Get Involved

Where could you start? Volunteer for company fundraisers and other company events. This way, you get to meet as many people as possible and work with them, and at the same time you still get something positive to do. You can volunteer to be the check-in officer at the help desk, this would make you comfortable making conversations with people you don’t know within a stipulated time frame you bargained for without pressure.

 

4. Know Where To Go

You definitely do not need to attend every single event just so you could network. It just doesn’t work that way. Handpick the events that apply to your career goals on the long run. Be clear on the nature of events you attend, and what you plan to gain from it.

 

5. Set Goals

Before attending any function or event where you plan to network, set goals such as how long you want to be at the function, who you would like to meet and also how many people you would like to meet. You could also set a certain amount of times you would pitch your business idea, and for how long. This prevents you from looking aimless at the event, and saves you from wasting time on the long run.

 

These tips all have something in common, a pre-conceived knowledge or at least an idea of how much time would be spent carrying out any one of these points. Some of them are embedded in our schedules and can also be integrated with our daily lives, while others require some time aside to achieve them. Networking is important, and is more effective when we ensure it is timely, necessary and also effective.

 

Have a great day!

 

Regards,

PushCV Content Team.