Why Intentional Networking Is Important In A Digital Age
One of the first steps to building your professional network is creating a LinkedIn profile. What now? How do we gauge who to connect with virtually? How should young professionals prioritize strong and meaningful relationships? The answer is simple, be intentional.
Oftentimes, we get wrapped up in having the most connections on LinkedIn, attending every virtual conference, going to every happy hour, and subscribing to countless email lists. Widening your network is important, but you do not want to fall into a rabbit hole and get lost. Even if you are unsure of what career path inspires you, it is still possible to be intentional with who you are networking with. Here are three tips to help you navigate a digital network.
Keep in touch
If you have completed a few internships or have experience working with different companies, stay up-to-speed on your former co-workers and managers. They know your skill-set, can speak to your areas of improvement and could even offer you some valuable life advice. They will be the people who write you recommendations and could potentially refer you to other work opportunities in the future.
My first internship was in the nonprofit sector working as a Marketing & Community Outreach intern. It was a great experience and I learned a lot. However, the likelihood of me working for that same non-profit organization is slim. Nonetheless, I still keep in touch with my former colleagues on a regular basis and it has paid dividends. I now consider my supervisor to be one of my strongest mentors. He knows that I most likely will not return to his organization, but that does not matter because he wants to help me succeed. A few times a year, we meet up for coffee to catch up, share opportunities, and laugh! Those are the type of people you want in your corner. These intentional and meaningful relationships are crucial to success as a young professional.
Listen carefully
Is there a guest speaker coming to the office to talk about empathetic leadership? Add them to your network and thank them for their insight. Did you overhear your co-worker talking about someone in an industry you are interested in? Ask them to connect you. Is there a name that keeps popping up in meetings, conversations, or on your company’s website? You should probably do research on that person. Use your active listening skills in the office, but also in your personal life. You may meet your next boss at a bar, birthday party, or yoga class. Always make the people you encounter feel valued and important.
Engage your virtual network
It is one thing to have 100 people on your LinkedIn page, but staying connected with that network is vital. What good is it going to do for you to have 20 new people on your page without engaging them? Here is a tip, every time you “add” someone to your virtual network, ask yourself why. Are you adding this person because they worked for the company you interned for? Do they have your dream job? Were they your professor? Are you just aimlessly clicking through people to expand your network? Whatever the reason, recognize it. Determine whether or not a person’s experiences will add value to your network. This exercise will allow you to be more intentional with your time while interacting with folks online.
After you establish that connection, continue to engage them. Let me be clear that you do not have to logon to your LinkedIn account everyday to interact with your network. I encourage you to set aside 30 minutes on your calendar every two weeks to interact with your professional connections online. Like their posts that resonate with you, read articles they publish and provide positive feedback, send a celebratory message when folks get promoted, use the endorsement feature to validate someone's skills if you worked alongside them on a project, etc. Consistent engagement will allow you to be more relevant in job searches, talent acquisition, and professional networking in general.
