Networking is when a group of people come together under a social canopy to provide benefits to one another, in any way possible.

Taking this concept to the professional pedestal, networking is an important tool within which one interacts and communicates with others in a bid to exchange information and develop contacts with such people – both professionally and socially.

While some might be able to grow their revenue and experience base through networking, you could also reap benefits such as:

Benefits:

• Opportunities – If you find out that you are not making waves in your niche or career field, it might be because of the network you have built around yourself. Even as a college student, you would benefit greatly by having a few strong contacts in your network that can help you get off to a good start in the highly competitive world we live in.

• Advice – there are some things that you just cannot find on the internet. When you network with people who are versed and highly experienced in your field and career path, you get access to invaluable pieces of advice that will benefit for years to come.

• Assistance – in the professional world, there is no way you could do everything yourself. Just imagine how much more effective you would be if you had experts in other disciplines that you could contact to help you solve major problems.

Networking Tips:

Now that we have reviewed the importance of networking and benefits that could come from it, here are a few tips that can help you improve your ability to network.

1. Plan Ahead

The goal is not to walk into a room and ask for the business cards of everyone in attendance. Effective networking requires that you put in a decent amount of thought, much like you would any other important decision. If you are going to an event, do some research on who will be in attendance and ways both of you could benefit from networking. Depending on the size of the event, you may not be able to meet everyone, so make sure you focus on the people you most want to connect with first and work your list from there.

2. Conversation Starters

For some of us, it is hard to walk up to a total stranger and start a conversation. To help ease the burden, look for something you both have in common and since you are at the same event, starting there wouldn’t be a bad idea.

You could simply lead with a line asking “what brought you to the event?” and let the conversation flow from there.

3. Express yourself

I think another way of saying this is to just ‘Be You.’ Do not let the status or presence of your possible contact put you off so much that you tiptoe around your career goals instead of hitting the nail on the head.

Don’t try to be someone you’re not and sugar-coat things. Chances are, you’ll set their BS meter on high alert. Come off as naturally as possible, as only then can you build a true relationship.

4. Follow-up

If you’ve had a great conversation with someone and exchanged contacts, it is suggested that you follow up with them. If you don’t, theres no point in asking for the contact in the first place. Email follow-ups are normally the way to go. Don’t be too forward or pushy about it, just send a simple email highlighting your conversation so that you keep the door open for future opportunities to connect. It is very important that you never close the chapter on networking as soon as you walk out of the event.