Many have asked me the question, “Why do you network?” My common response is because I enjoy it, although, this is not the case for many.
During this recent economic downturn, many have turned to networking out of sheer desperation, which in my mind, can only lead to unfavorable results. I decided to entitle this article “The Art of Networking: It is not a science”, because the “act” of networking requires practice and one cannot learn all of the nuances via a simple laundry list of do’s and don’ts.
Networking should be done as often as possible, since we never know what the future brings. More importantly, it is much easier to provide value to a new business contact when you are employed. The process of networking is more than simply exchanging business cards and email correspondences; it is the art of connecting with a contact, and providing value. The art of networking takes time, and like any business relationship, one must build strong rapport before one feels comfortable enough to share their contacts and or business leads. This is where the value aspect comes to play. After strong rapport has been achieved, your new contact will soon begin to open up in a variety of ways. He might be able to introduce you to a hiring manager at a firm you are interested in or an HR professional that you have always wanted to meet. Furthermore, your new business contact may even invite you to an upcoming gala or a volunteer event where prominent people in your respective industry are present.
Once you have made the strong connection with your contact, and your rapport level is at the point where you feel comfortable sharing business contacts and leads, it is very important that you sustain this relationship. Sustained follow up is key! Many people are good at making the first connection, and perhaps keeping in touch for a couple of weeks, but the true strong connections last much longer than that.
Some helpful tips to maintaining a strong business relationship:
*Introduce other like-minded professionals to your contact
*Call your contact on their birthday
*Periodic phone calls to simply see how your contact is doing
*Send articles that are relevant to your contacts industry/profession
Remember the phrase, “out of sight, out of mind.” You must always keep yourself current.
Lastly, it is important to note that the majority of jobs are found via one’s personal or business network. Therefore no matter which line of business you are in, it is imperative that you network constantly and not only when you need something, i.e. being laid off, or unhappy with your current job situation. Networking takes practice and the more times you challenge yourself to be in situations outside of your comfort zone, the better.
Good luck and happy networking!
Nkrumah Pierre
Account Executive – Temporary Division
