The networking toolkit
Your network won’t grow on its own! Follow these steps to expand and strengthen your network.
Before you dive into the daily aspect of a networking plan, figure out who your targets are. Who do you know and who do you want to know? Having a list in hand to refer back to will make the next steps easier.
Since networking can happen anytime, tailor your goals to the next step on your horizon. Here are some examples based on different career stages.
- For someone in college and not yet searching for a job: Meet 3 people who work in a target field and obtain at least one informational interview to learn about what makes people successful in that career
- For someone on the verge of a job search: Make 5 new connections in a target field and get advice and feedback on job search tactics.
- For someone happily employed: Obtain 3 informational interviews with senior level leaders in a field to learn about how they advanced in their roles.
Break your goals into small milestones and determine what steps you can take to make progress. For example, if you are aiming to obtain an informational interview, then you’ll need a list of people to reach out to with a plan for when you will do so. Make sure your milestones have deadlines and that you are incorporating them into your everyday activities.
As you make new connections, your networking pitch will come in handy. Make sure to make that one of your milestones.
Networking is an active task and requires effort and monitoring. Luckily, you’ll have goals and a plan. Also, networking tends to gather momentum so once you get started, you’ll probably see the process get easier over time.