There’s no doubt that networking can give your career a good boost. Many advancement opportunities are never posted. Ultimately these positions are filled by someone that knew someone that knew someone else. It’s important to put yourself within that social chain. With the aide of social media and the internet, networking is easier than ever before, and no longer needs to be done face to face. Everyone you meet is an opportunity, whether it be today or in the future. You should be making the most of your networking efforts.
Never Stop Networking
Examine Your Resources
Think about all of your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. You already know someone that is well-connected. Consider your entire social network. Maybe you’re a member of a church or local community, Moose Lodge, a former babysitter, or a local women’s group. Are you leveraging those contacts effectively? Don’t be timid. The most successful people don’t wait for opportunities to present themselves, they create them.
Consistency & Persistence
The key to effective networking is consistency and persistence. A little each day is more effective than a monumental effort every once in a while. Similar to going to the gym; you need to be consistent in your efforts if you want to see big results. Set aside time, make the time, reach out to people regularly.
Be A Joiner
Join relevant local and national organizations. Whether you’re a writer, comedian, producer, film maker, or artist, there are organizations that cater to your needs and interests. Seek them out, become a part of them. In some cases, your employer may be willing to foot the bill. Be creative. Finding like minded creatives will benefit you more than you think.
Don’t Fight with Social Media
Like it or not, pursing a career in entertainment means participating in social media. You might as well ride out the wave. Make your social media work for you. Make your presence known to the world, you have the entire world at your finger tips. Stay consitent. Make contact with a few new and old people each day.
Be Proactive
Make the first move. You can’t just stand in the middle of the crowd at a networking event and expect people to line up for the privilege of talking to you. The burden is on you to start conversations. Take the bull by the horns and mingle. You’ll get much better with practice. Find a common interest besides work to make yourself memorable.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Practice. It’s hard to maintain a conversation by asking questions that can be answered with a “yes” or “no”. Ask questions that require a detailed answer. Avoid constantly steering the conversation back to you. It’s much easier to speak to others and be memorable when you take a genuine interest in the person you’re talking to.
Follow Up
Don’t wait for them to contact you. Communicating with someone one time isn’t much good. We meet 100’s of people each day, you need to make an effort to stay fresh in their mind. Reach out to the most promising contacts you’ve made and touch base regularly. Stay in touch, and avoid the habit of always asking for something.
Quality Over Quantity
Passing out your business card like you’re passing out free vouchers won’t do you a lot of good. Make an effort to make a few real connections rather than throwing a 100 darts at the wall. Make real and valuable connections. These moments will help you become memorable. You truly receive what you give when it comes to networking. You won’t get much if you don’t give much. Make a real effort to connect with others. Remember to listen at least as much as you talk.
Bridge the Gap
Connect others together. This can be especially powerful. Bring other people together. This is especially easy to do and can pay off down the road for your own career.
Avoid Asking for Anything
Avoid selling or asking for anything during your first interaction. If every time you reach out to someone you’re trying to get something from them, people will tire of you very quickly. Instead, give them something.
“I know you’re interested in wineries. Here’s a fascinating article I thought you might be interested in.”
Or…
“I know you are a bit of a ‘foodie’, here’s a great restaurant recommendation.”
You get the idea, don’t make it all about you.
Networking can be an effective way to begin the process of building relationships with potential employers.
You can also get to know people that can give you referrals. Ensure that you’re also doing all you can for your network. The more value you can provide, the more you’re likely to receive.