The importance of networking
Networking is an essential part of any graduate’s paths towards becoming established in their chosen industry.
Making new connections and adding to your circle of professional contacts can be a daunting experience. However, it is an important to ensure it is an ongoing process if you wish to develop your career and discover opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
For those in the creative industry, there is always a significant advantage in making contacts and networking with people, whether that’s through work, online platforms, at events or even whilst still at university.
The creative industries are a competitive and challenging environment, but networking can make it feel less intimidating. It helps you connect with everyone from fellow graduates to established practitioners. It can also open doors as you seek to move up the careers ladder, and may lead to recommendations which further enhance your career prospects.
In some ways, networking has been both easier and harder at the same time by the internet and the rise of social media. There are many platforms that allow you to put yourself out there as a professional. Ideas, advice, and skills can be shared through sites such as LinkedIn and apps including Instagram and Twitter.
Numerous websites, such as Bright Networks, connect graduates and professionals to career opportunities such as internships, work placements and professional resources.
Networking helps you distinguish yourself as a suitable candidate, and it can allow you to present specific key information about yourself while also promoting your personal brand.
According to indeed.com: “The most common time for using your network is during a job search, since many positions are filled using personal contacts instead of advertisements. If you are looking for a new career, your network is almost certainly your most powerful tool.”
In an article on networking for Forbes, Bianca Miller Cole says: “The self-confidence that has been built over time can help put you in a positive spot whenever you interact with like minds in your career. This also gives you an opportunity to excel well during interview sessions for a job opportunity. So the more effectively you network, the more self-confidence you build over time.
When entering a networking environment, it is essential to know precisely what you have to offer; when you know your attributes and skills, you utilise them when speaking to other industry professionals. It’s also a tricky balancing act in terms of being socially confident and avoiding awkward encounters.
According to start-up investment firm First Round: “It’s when we’re actually tasked with putting networking into practice, with cementing it into our everyday routines, that we have to navigate around the social landmines. We want to be sincere, not smarmy. We need to reach out deliberately, but in authentic way. We should create relationships that thrive, not just last. We need to stay in touch, but not overwhelm or overstep our welcome.”
The networking experience can be less stressful or anxiety-inducing when you know your chosen industry, and what are the current hot topics of discussion within it.
The most important thing to do when seeking to expand your contacts list is make a lasting impression. This doesn’t mean chatting with as many people as possible at an event or adding dozens of connections for the sake of it on LinkedIn. It means finding individuals who can recognise your potential through that all-important first impression and who may one day be able to help you in your career – and maybe you will also be able to help them.
Giving as well as receiving help and support is a key factor in networking. According to recruitment company Michael Page: “Networking is about sharing, not taking. It is about forming trust and helping one another toward goals. Regularly engaging with your contacts and finding opportunities to assist them helps to strengthen the relationship. By doing this, you sow the seeds for reciprocal assistance when you need help to achieve your goals.”
At the end of the day, networking is what takes you one step closer to your career goals. It can help build lasting professional relationships for graduates and postgraduate students and can be the strategy that brings you closer to making the most of valuable opportunities.
Feature image illustration by Afra Al Majed.