There are various reasons to network. Networking affects your reputation and your social circle. Engaging in networking can result in jobs, partnerships, and support. The benefits include an increase in trust and visibility. Networking can also provide an inside advantage when it comes to your professional and personal life.
Gain Trust
When done correctly, networking helps people gain trust. The more people trust you, the more likely they are to want to do business with you. There are a few steps that anyone can take to gain trust from contacts. These steps are common sense, but their importance cannot be overemphasized.
Gaining Trust:
- Be honest: Trust is easily gained when people have a reputation for being honest and sincere.
- Act with consistency: This requires acting with integrity at all times, even when no one is watching.
- Be helpful: Remember that it is your goal to meet contacts’ needs. Develop a reputation for being helpful.
Be Visible
Networking can help increase your visibility in the market place, where it doesn’t hurt to stand out. Job listings tend to draw piles of applicants, and many of them are qualified. In this competitive atmosphere, it is essential that you stand out from the rest. There are a number of ways to increase visibility. Your circumstances will determine which actions will be effective for you.
Increase Visibility:
- Volunteer
- Speak at events
- Write content
- Share expertise
- Ask questions
- Share news (blog, social media, newsletters, etc.)
Be an Insider
Networking can help make you an insider. People in your network will be able to guide you to new opportunities. Remember that not every job you want will be advertised. The right connections can provide you with insider opportunities. If a connection feels that you would be perfect for a job, he or she will recommend you. You may be offered it before it is ever posted. You should expect to do the same for your contacts should the opportunity present itself.
Gain Advantage
Networking will help you gain an advantage as your visibility increases. You will be able to stay in the forefront of the decision makers’ minds. There are steps to take to ensure that you will have a positive relationship with the decision makers:
- Dress appropriately
- Watch your tone and body language
- Be helpful
- Be engaged (at work and in the community)