How to build a professional network – and why it is important
A good network can help you to know your professional field and orient yourself in other people's positions and working realities. Perhaps a good network can also provide you with new challenges at some point, but how do you do that?
From student identity to career identity
From now on, your career is your professional identity. It will grow in different directions, it should change course and be dynamic, but no matter what, the responsibilities you’ve had and the people you’ve worked with will define your working life. Therefore, your career must be nurtured, so that it can embrace your ambitions and work for you.
Use LinkedIn
Use your LinkedIn profile actively and connect with everyone from your studies.
When you land a job at some point, connect with everyone you work with, including those you haven’t talked with yet. If you have time, you can also try to share one or two posts and see how well your posts do.
Behaviour on LinkedIn is a little like behaviour on Facebook in the 2000s. People want to like, comment and share posts. Jump on the bandwagon.
When your old friend from university shares or comments on one of your posts, this person’s connections will see it and suddenly your post will have a huge reach.
Small talk with your colleagues
Talk to everyone, even those you don’t work directly with.
When you’re on a break, go for a walk around your company. Stand by the coffee machine, join the smokers outside or walk to the canteen. Eat lunch with some new people and generally try to talk with as many people as possible.
Use your own experiences when you talk to them. Tell them about your day, your tasks or what you had for dinner last night.
Don´t be worried about oversharing. Smile if you’re happy and tell them if you’re under pressure. People who share something about themselves are perceived as generous. And colleagues who share, bond. Bonding andd sharing with your colleagues is good overall, but it will also help you in the time to come if you encounter an obstacle and you need help overcoming it.
Validate your contact
Of course, talking about yourself is not enough.
You also need to talk about your colleagues. But asking “How’s it going” and other similar superficial small talk doesn’t do the trick. If you want to make an impression on your colleagues, and you want them to remember you – even in five years when they happen to be looking for a colleague with your competences – you have to validate your contact.
Remember what they said last time you spoke with them. So, when you meet them again, you can say: “Did you ever talk to Jonathan about the server solution that was bothering you?” or “Does your daughter still have an ear infection?” and not “How’s it going?” The difference is crucial.
People who are seen, feel seen. And people who feel seen remember the people who saw them.
Show them your personality
Share your quirkiness.
If you love a TV show, read magazines on astronomy or you’re crazy about Bollywood films from the 1980s, share it with people.
You don’t have to be superficial and just talk about the weather. Be yourself. Most people have something weird they are interested in.
Who knows, maybe Lone from HR also likes harpoon fishing, maybe not. But if she can see that you have character, she’ll respect and remember you for it.
Personality is an underrated tool when it comes to building good networks.
Join a specialist network
The social aspect is one thing in a good network connection. Another thing is what you get from professional networks.
There may not be 10 people with your specialist background at the department. Perhaps you’re the only one.
In that case, it can be a good idea to join a specialist network. IDA has about 70 professional and social networks, and regardless of whether you’re in building and construction, energy and the environment or IT and innovation, there’s a network relevant for you where you can meet people like you.
