It has been said that it’s not what you know but who you know. Though that’s not entirely true, it does help your professional career to cast a wide net and make as many professional connections as possible. This means within your company as well as within your industry. And you may find that when you’re top of mind with professionals in your field, you’ll have a much greater chance of finding out about open positions and being recommended for them. So what can you do to improve your networking skills? It’s easy with a few smart tactics. Here’s what you need to know.
Seven ways to network like an expert
You can increase your professional contacts and better your career with the following tips for great networking:
Be genuine.
People want to believe that you are who you say you are. This helps you to build trust and rapport with your colleagues, and can help to increase your job contacts. So always remember to be yourself. It also helps to be upbeat and positive, because then you’ll be much more pleasant to chat with.
Prepare your elevator pitch.
When meeting new people, especially higher-ups, it’s helpful to have an elevator pitch that you can recite to introduce yourself. In other words, you should be able to briefly explain who you are and what you’re all about to those who don’t yet know you.
Be a good listener.
In the book How to Win Friends and Influence People, it’s stated that the one thing most people love to talk about is themselves. You can use this information to make a good impression with another person. Simply allow them to introduce themselves and talk about their accomplishments and current projects. As a good listener, you’ll also make a great connection.
Stay up-to-date with your industry.
You should regularly review industry journals and the national news so you know what’s going on in the world, as well as within your industry. This will not only give you something to talk about when you meet people, it will show that you’re serious about your career path and learning more about it.
Harness the power of social media.
The entire goal of social media is giving yourself an online presence to interact with others. You can do this easily through Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. For example, you can participate in Twitter conversations or join LinkedIn groups and offer your own insight.
Maximize networking events.
When you attend a trade show, conference, seminar, etc., you should always be armed with business cards or even copies of your resume, just in case. Know who you’d like to meet or what companies you’d like to learn more about so you can accomplish all your tasks durnig the time you’re there.
Always be ready to chat.
You just never know who you might run into while waiting for your morning coffee or heading in to work on the subway. Simple conversations can lengthen your list of contacts and could always help you to build connections within other companies.
Are you ready for your next position?
As you practice your networking skills, you’ll be able to put them to good use with a fresh, new job. And Snelling Georgia Group can help. We place qualified professionals with open positions in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. To learn more about our current openings, you can visit our available job opportunities near Atlanta or contact our experienced recruiters.
