How To Effectively Build Your Network

As an entrepreneur and a business owner, I participate in many networking events related to my industry. It is a good opportunity to stay up to date with new changes in the coaching field, meet new people and understand what their needs are. What about you? In how many networking events do you take part?

Networking is a great strategy to discover unpublished job market. It is a process of meeting people in a specific industry. It is your informational interview to explore what people do and in consequences develop strategic relationships. And if you are living in a different country it is a great way to meet new people and make connections with the local community.

If you are new to networking or would like to become more confident while making new contacts here are 7 networking tips which can help you:

1. The purpose of networking is to gain information or referrals – not jobs. Through your questions, you should focus on that. If you focus on asking for the job you will put your potential contacts on defensive mode and you will not get the result you want.

2. 1:50 Principle. Everybody knows, at least, fifty other people from different areas of your life (work, school, groups, friends) and those people know other fifty people. You can make a list of all your relevant contacts (using also social media). The probabilities are that those people know someone who works in your target industry. But wait! Do not contact them yet.

3. Use LinkedIn to connect with people. If you connect with people in your industry you can contact them referencing that connection.

4. Use the phone. Follow up your email or LinkedIn contact by phone. Be polite when reaching new people you want to meet. You can forget easily about an email from someone you don’t know unless the follow-up call is made.

5. If you are living near your contact, you can ask for a 15-minute personal meeting, if not you can schedule a call and stick to a specific time.

6. To create positive impression research the company and industry prior to the meeting. Check the individual who you are meeting (check the LinkedIn profile or website).

7. Prepare a list of questions but do not take your CV. If you are bringing your resume to the networking meeting it can change the tone of the conversation, remember you are going there to get more information, not asking for the job. Prepare a verbal summary of your background.

If you feel not very confident about networking and getting in touch with new people the best thing to do is a role-play or a mock interview with a friend or a person who can support you in that. Think about it as a research exercise, you are there doing your research, your informational interviews.

Source: “Career Coaching: An Insider’s Guide by Marcia Bench

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Dominika Miernik

Dominika Miernik is an award-winning Career and Expat Coach with over 20 years of living and working abroad in countries like Poland, Italy, the UK and France. Over the past 10+ years, she has been helping expat and globally mobile women to create fulfilling careers and businesses around their international lives. She works with individuals and expat support organisations. And is a mentor for expat coaches.
Currently, she is enjoying a laptop lifestyle while travelling across Europe.

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