Three Keys to Better Networking for Recent Business Grads

Whether you have just completed a master's degree in business administration or an undergraduate business program, business networking is one of the most important skills you can master. In some cases, it really is who you know that can make a big impact on the success of your job search. Unfortunately, many recent college graduates do not have the networking skills they need to succeed in a competitive hiring market. Use these tips for better business networking to help you land more job interviews and make the most of networking events.

One of the biggest keys to business networking success is positioning yourself as a leader in your industry. Cindy Krischer Goodman says participating in political, community service, and charitable activities are all good ways to meet the movers and shakers of the business world. Performing a few hours of work is not enough, however. To really reap the networking benefits of serving others, you should volunteer to lead a committee or sit on a panel of experts. Volunteering for these activities will put you in touch with powerful people who already have a lot of connections in your industry.

Although meeting new people is important, one of the keys to effective business networking for college graduates is using your existing connections to break into your desired industry. Keep in touch with people you met during your management program, as some of these people may go on to take high-level positions with well-known companies. Don't discount the importance of maintaining positive relationships with neighbors, family members, past college professors, and former managers. All of these people are potential sources of job leads and introductions to power players in your industry.

Finally, you must have a networking strategy in place before you attempt to attend networking events or engage in other networking activities. Without a plan, you will not be able to monitor your progress or determine the best way to make contacts. Creating a strategy also makes it easier to build your networking activities into your daily schedule. Doing ten or fifteen minutes of business networking each day is much easier than trying to do several hours of networking at one time. Your strategy should include information about who you want to meet and how you are going to meet each person.

There's no escaping the fact that business networking plays an important role in professional success. Even the most knowledgeable and talented professionals need to make professional contacts to take advantage of all the opportunities available in their industries. If you are ready to start networking with others, create a networking strategy, get involved in your community, and take advantage of the connections you already have. These steps will help you get the most out of your business networking efforts.

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