In this day and age, having solid networking skills is absolutely crucial — whether you are making connections virtually or in person. It is essential that you learn how to make every interaction memorable and meaningful.
While it may seem like professional networking is a simple trade of contact information, it actually serves a broader purpose of building mutually beneficial professional relationships.
So, whether you have a local networking event on your calendar or you’re looking to make the most of your ThinkPod experience, here are five tips to help you improve your networking.
1. Set Aside Your Agenda
You already know that there are things you can ask of your friends that you can’t ask of strangers, right? This fact applies while networking. You can’t expect people that you’ve just met to do you favors. Instead, focus on making an authentic connection, and save your “asks” for a third or fourth interaction.
2. Show Some Face
The relationships that you build will significantly influence your career, and making a concerted effort to cultivate genuine connections is vital. You should be trying to gain respect and trust from everyone with whom you interact.
3. Swap Some Stories
To help you feel more relatable in your networking, you should share a story or two. Talk about how you got into your industry, something you’ve learned along the way, or tell a humorous work-related antidote. Remember to ask questions and get them to tell their own stories too!
4. Set Goals
Networking takes dedication! You are more likely to feel motivated to do it if you have a purpose or end goal in sight. You could achieve so many networking goals, such as finding a better job, building brand awareness, or searching for new talent. Keep your goals in mind every time you have an interaction with another professional!
5. Don’t Forget to Be Social
While face-to-face networking is important, sometimes, it can be impractical — especially evident in the last two years! Social media is a great place to build organic connections when you can’t get out in person.
ThinkPod helps professionals from all across the globe build their network with ease and personality!
Grab Your Network Card and Get Out There!
ThinkPod’s digital Network Card makes the whole process that much easier. You’ll have your contact info at your fingertips everywhere, all the time. With a quick scan of the QR card, you can give your connections all your important details.
