Networking is an awkward skill! There, that’s a fact. But it’s equally rewarding for your professional life. Building contacts in all industries at all stages of your career can open up many future opportunities, even the ones you haven’t considered yet.
Networking can be quite a daunting task, especially for introverts. You have to converse, and sometimes, the conversation is nothing but a time-killer. But what are the benefits of developing this daunting yet beneficial skill for your professional life?
1. Increases The Chances Of Getting Hired
If you are looking for a job in a particular company and know someone over there, your chance of getting the job increases tenfold. An employee referral goes a long way, and the employer gets a good word about you before you even appear before the interview board.
Further, if you are in constant touch with someone from your dream company, you get first-hand news when a matching opportunity opens up. So you get to be one of the early candidates to apply for the same. That’s an advantage you don’t want to miss!
2. Build Healthy Work Relationships
Building a healthy network of relations in your professional life is as important as creating a good network of friends in your personal life. You always get to be ahead of your game and would get to know the industry standards and, thus, serve your clients better.
Networking amongst your co-workers or between the departments of the same company is also a good skill to develop. If you ever need help with your project and the expert in the matter is in another department, you can easily reach out and learn. It’s an asset to your career and steers your professional growth.
3. Get Introduced To A Lot Of New Ideas
When you network, you get a lot of ideas from your peers. It’s a good brainstorming session wherein your brain works, and you develop your own ideas. This type of networking would keep you on top of the game. You can indulge in the ideas proposed by others, ask them for professional help and input your suggestions.
4. Create An Identity For Yourself
When you network with professionals, you are letting yourself be out there and let the world know about your skill set and what you do. The more you network, the more you become a familiar face. Once you become a notable professional in the field, you will get many new opportunities and tremendous growth in your career.
Further, you also get a lot of career advice from industry experts and some first-hand knowledge from those who have been in the field for quite a long time. These pieces of advice would do greater good for your career.
Final Thoughts
Networking might seem a tedious job at the start. But once you get the hang of it, you will love it. You get to be amongst like-minded people and participate in conversations that grow you as a professional and as a person.
About the Author
Simon Chou is the Vice President of Operations and Growth at BCjobs.ca. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development, marketing strategy, and online presence for startups. Prior to joining BCJobs.ca, Simon was an advisor for several global blockchain projects including Litecoin, NEM, and Ripple. In the past, he also worked with Fortune 500 companies in the healthcare space through SM Digital—a global marketing agency.
