Do you walk into the front door of an industry event just to turn around and walk right back out without saying a word? If you have a fear of networking, or networking simply isn't your thing, you're not the only one. Networking is a vital cog in the machine that advances your career, so discover these four tips to help you when networking seems like the hardest task you could possibly do.
1. Join a Professional Association
A professional association, no matter what career you choose, represents a ready-made network of people who already have something in common with you. Allay your fear of networking simply by talking about the latest industry trends, what your company does or some news that impacts your profession. Events within your professional association let you mingle with like-minded people. You might even find a mentor or become a mentor at one of these events. Consider taking on a leadership role by volunteering to sit on a committee within the association to lend a helping hand.
2. Share Your Experiences
Share your experiences of your career path and your industry, no matter stage of the journey you find yourself in at this particular moment. You could be a 40-year veteran of the same company or a newly minted college graduate, but either scenario gives you a chance to reach out and overcome a fear of networking. As a new college grad, you can speak at events that cater to undergraduates still deciding on a major to serve as an industry recruiter.
Don't forget about posting your relevant thoughts on your LinkedIn page or professional website. Use your own experiences to grow your network. If you have particular insights into something, share them on your social networks. You might ask to be a guest blogger if you have enough industry experience under your belt. Your fear of networking might come from a false perception that you have nothing to contribute to the conversation. Thanks to social media, everyone has a voice and everyone has a chance to contribute.
3. Think of Networking as an Interview
Rather than a job interview, think of networking as an informational interview wherein you simply ask another person for information. A job interview is stressful and nerve-racking, but simply asking for information is much easier. Ease your fear of networking through an informal meeting over coffee, through email or over the phone. Ask your contact for advice, and inquire about his chosen career path, how he got to where he is today and the things that are important to him now that he is in his position.
4. Reconnect With Your Past
Look up your previous colleagues and reconnect with them. Much like an industry association, your previous colleagues create a ready-made network that already has something in common with you. Share project ideas with your previous co-workers, set up a social media gathering page for your group and share news stories with each other.
These four tips help make you more comfortable with contacting total strangers as you try to overcome your fear of networking. Before you know it, you may have a network of 100 people who you contact at least once every couple of weeks.
Photo courtesy of Fruitnet.com at Flickr.com
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