Networking is a crucial part of career building. A good group of contacts can aid you with everything from winning a promotion to helping you complete a specific piece of work. The potential of networking really knows no bounds – ultimately you are much more likely to land your dream job if you have the right contacts.
Choose your contacts carefully
Potential contacts include colleagues and ex-colleagues, clients, suppliers and any industry professionals with whom you are on good terms. Be selective rather than exhaustive. Remember any of these people could request your assistance at any time, so it is best to keep the size of the group under control. Make a list of potential contacts and ask yourself whether or not they are reliable. If you can envisage problems with a contact think twice about keeping them in your network – you need to feel confident about them. It helps if you get on well with your contacts, so if someone has a habit of getting on your nerves it is probably best to find someone else when you need a favour.
Where to make useful contacts?
Workers often discard employees from competing firms as potential networking contacts, but just because they work for ‘the enemy’ does not mean you must never speak to them. Work at building good relations in this area to become aware of the movers and shakers in the industry. This will also help you to gain a better understanding of the kind of company you would like to work for.
Another excellent place to make contacts is events such as trade exhibitions and industry conferences. These provide the perfect forum for getting to know the competition and can lead to contacts in related industries should you need them. Sign up to relevant mailing lists, as you never know when they might provide an opportunity to make a good contact.
The golden rules of networking
As far as dealing with your contacts is concerned, it is worth remembering a few simple rules:
- Try to keep contact relations professional – don't treat them as ‘friends’ you gossip with or regularly meet for a night out.
- When making a request (especially relating to a new position), be careful not to complain too much about your present job. Be clear and concise in your communication, letting the contact know exactly what you want to achieve.
- Make an effort to keep in touch with your contacts, don’t let them forget who you are.
- Always deliver what you have promised a contact on time.
- Keep your secrets to yourself – just as you wouldn’t want to let an interviewer know your whole history, neither do any of your contacts need to know.