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- Professional Networking 101
Hey there,
When I was a student, I didn’t really care about building a professional network.
It all seemed so awkward and artificial.
Why shouldn’t I just keep to my small circle of friends?
And besides, what’s the point?
I discovered my mistake years later, after quite a few missed opportunities.
I then learned to network effectively the hard way (i.e. way too late).
It’s a skill like every other.
And as with any other skill, you have to train it.
Today, I’ll try to give you a summary of the Who, Where and When of networking.
you and your buddies
Who
Short answer : Interesting people you like.
Long answer :
Let’s start with an oversimplification by putting people in two distinct categories
People you need
People who need you
Yet another Venn diagram
People you need can be potential mentors, people who could work for you or support you.
People who need you are for example potential clients and future bosses.
If this sound oversimplified, it is.
Most of the time you would look for a symbiotic relationship.
Try to look for partners.
As an aside, there are 3 types of people you should avoid.
Parasites (for your time, your energy, your money). They always take from you, never giving anything in exchange.
You # 2. They’re your exact copy. You want the members of your circle to complement each other, not be a bunch of clones.
Big superstars (eg Nobel prizes in your field, author of a hot new book, renowned business leaders). People who are unattainable. They’re so ahead of you that you will be a parasite to them. You’ll approach them when you have something to offer.
Where and When
Short answer : all the time.
Long answer :
Try to go to places where interesting stuff is happening.
In places you find interesting, you’re bound to meet people you find interesting.
(remember : networking should be fun)
This of course varies from person to person and what works for me might be hell for you.
There are special occasions for networking (seminars, industry conventions, alumni meeting, etc).
At those places you can be very upfront : tell them about your projects, your quest for a job, your shiny new startup, you name it.
On the other hand, there are social occasions that are just about having fun (parties, concerts, expos, etc).
There, your first goal should just be to have a good time.
Make new friends.
If one day, your interests align and you end up working together, fine!
Or maybe they have a friend who could work with you.
It’s less direct.
There’s also the internet.
It’s a great place to network.
The best way to do it is to create an audience.
Talk about your field, teach stuff, be active.
People will reach out to you.
It’s never too soon to start to build a professional network.
Bonus : How
It’s quite simple.
Have fun.
Strive to become an expert, teach others, create projects, show them to the world.
Do things that you find are interesting.
You’ll meet people that you find are interesting.
Try to think about what you bring to people.
You’re bound to meet some great folks.
See you later,
After Class