Throughout all of college you are drilled with the constant advice that everywhere you go is an opportunity to network. Networking is an amazing tool that can really be life changing if you’re doing it right. Once you graduate from college or university you no longer have advisors and teachers in your ear reminding you to make the most of every situation and network, but by no means does networking end once you’ve graduated. In fact, this is when you need to ramp it up even more because you are in the “real world”.
Traditional networking at events is great, but you may be thinking to yourself, “how exactly am I supposed to network in the midst of a pandemic?” and you have a point. The likelihood that you’ll have a chance to meet potential business partners, employees, or employers in person at an event any time in the near future isn’t too likely. This being said, we do have an advantage during this time, and that is the internet.
We are so fortunate because we have the luxury of the internet, but even more so because we all have access to LinkedIn. Realistically, networking has never been easier. You have access to everyone’s profile which gives you the ability to get in contact with anyone you please. Along with this, you have their profiles which display all of their past work experience and highlights, so you should definitely read up on whoever it is that you are trying to get in contact with and learn their background. When it’s this easy, you do not really have an excuse.
Once you’ve found someone that you’d like to connect with, how do you make the first move? You can message someone on LinkedIn, or if they have their email under their contact information you can reach out to them via email. It’s important that when you first reach out to someone you make them feel comfortable with you. Establish some sort of connection or similarity that you have. If you noticed that you two have the same Alma Mater or you share some mutual connections, mention this! From here, you should go on to talk about things in their career and experience that stand out to you, and ask if they have time to talk further about this.
The great thing about networking is that there’s really nothing to lose. Putting yourself out there has never been a bad thing. In the best-case scenario, you gain a business partner, boss, employee, mentor, etc. If you do put yourself out there and you don’t hear anything back, at least you won’t be left wondering “what if” because you’ve done your part. You are never too far along in your career to be networking. Just like learning, it is something that you should continuously be pursuing as it can only take you further in life and in your career.
