How can networking help you

Our review will help you with tips on the design, structure and content of your resume. While you wait, we have plenty of expert career advice on our blog. We get it — networking isn't at the top of everyone's to-do list. It can be time-consuming, downright awkward on occasion, and — depending on your personality — incredibly draining.

When your calendar is already overcrowded with work appointments and family commitments, the last thing you want to do is make small talk with strangers at yet another cocktail party. However, there's no denying the power a strong professional network can have over your career success.

When it's done well, networking will not only help you land a job faster, but it will give you a competitive edge throughout every stage of your career. Here's why networking is important to your success, and what you can do to improve your networking skills throughout the course of your career development. Networking isn't merely the exchange of information with others — and it's certainly not about begging for favors.

Networking is about establishing and nurturing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with the people you meet, whether you're waiting to order your morning coffee, participating in an intramural sports league, or attending a work conference. You don't have to join several professional associations and attend every networking event that comes your way in order to be a successful networker.

In fact, if you take your eyes off your smartphone when you're out in public, you'll see that networking opportunities are all around you every day. Experts agree that the most connected people are often the most successful.

When you invest in your relationships — professional and personal — it can pay you back in dividends throughout the course of your career. Networking will help you develop and improve your skill set, stay on top of the latest trends in your industry, keep a pulse on the job market, meet prospective mentors, partners, and clients, and gain access to the necessary resources that will foster your career development.

Career development, in its simplest terms, is the lifelong evolution of your career. It's influenced by a number of things that include the jobs you hold, the experiences you gain in and out of the office, the success you achieve at each stage of your career, the formal and informal education and training you receive, and the feedback you're provided with along the way.

Ideally, organizations would place more emphasis on employee development in the workplace. Cast explains that in today's workforce, the burden is on you to take control of your career development. Hence the importance of networking for career development: As you network with people at your company, in your industry, and even outside your field of interest, you'll uncover opportunities to connect with different types of mentors and advisors, increase your visibility with senior management, further develop your areas of expertise, and improve your soft skills.

You may assume that networking is an activity reserved for your time out of the office and off the clock, but nothing could be further from the truth. While there is much value in connecting with people who work at other companies or in different fields, don't discount the importance of networking in the workplace. Whether you're new to the company and want to get the lay of the land or you're already established and have your sights set on a promotion , networking with your co-workers can be incredibly beneficial to your career progression.

As you develop relationships with those in your department and in other divisions, be on the lookout for potential mentors, upcoming professional development opportunities, or new job opportunities that are not publicly advertised. Click on the following link for tips to help you effectively network in the workplace. It goes without saying that networking is incredibly important during a job search. Your chances of landing the job increase tenfold with the right employee referral.

And, if you're looking to make a career change , your professional network can support you by helping you find connections in the industry you are trying to break into or helping you find leads for jobs at specific companies.

Take the time to build meaningful relationships with those in your professional circle, so when the time comes to search for work, you can tap into those valuable connections for referrals, insights into job leads, and other valuable information. The benefits of networking are found in every industry and organization. Networking achieves the objectives of building business relationships to further career goals or find new opportunities. Networking is vital to career growth and increases the chance to make important contacts.

In this article, we explain why networking is important, suggest 14 benefits of building your network and provide tips to build yours. Networking is about building long-term business relationships that are beneficial to both parties.

When networking, you meet and get to know people who not only offer career advice or guidance, but can help expand your effectiveness in your organization. Networking creates the right connections with the right people and fosters those relationships regularly. We compiled 14 reasons why networking can benefit you in business. Meeting like-minded people in the same or similar industries introduces you to others with similar goals. Sharing ideas and solutions with others can help you achieve your career goals and provide evidence of your expertise.

A network becomes a pool of resources you can turn to to solve problems or exchange ideas. As a bonus, networking can produce lifelong friendships. Sharing challenges, experiences or goals with others allows for an exchange of ideas or insight. When others offer input it may result in an influx of new perspectives not considered before. When you're the one offering advice, others may see you as knowledgeable or reliable, which builds your reputation and increases the chance that others might turn to you in the future.

Being visible isn't about showing up at every event, it's about demonstrating that you are a reliable and supportive member of your profession. As you network effectively, you become a familiar face who is easily recognized.

People may want to get to know you, giving you an opportunity to showcase your skills and discuss what you have to offer. Being visible increases the chance you'll stand out as a candidate, especially if you're looking for new job opportunities. Networking advances career interests by introducing you to people who can provide advice for career advancement like proofreading a resume or cover letter or practicing interview questions. Or, you may meet mentors in the same industry who can offer advice on asking for a raise or promotion.

Read more: 7 Types of Networking Opportunities. In some cases, available jobs aren't listed on a company's careers page and require inside knowledge.

Your networking relationships might inform you of unadvertised job openings or even refer you. Be sure to let your network know if you're looking for a new job so they can offer chances for career advancement or personal growth. For people who run their own business, networking can expose you to new clients or business investment advice. If you're doing the hiring, networking might provide the ideal candidate. Networking creates access to new and valuable information, especially when it comes from a wide array of knowledgeable people.

You may hear about new developments or learn techniques others are using in your industry. Try pursuing contacts you can learn and grow from to stay ahead of your competition. Meeting people with common challenges may provide valuable suggestions or advice for an approach you hadn't considered before.

Networking can introduce you to mentors who can provide professional critiques and help you achieve your career goals. Networking boosts self-confidence and develops social skills. Striking up conversations with people you don't know lets you grow to become self-assured and comfortable. Start by sending a LinkedIn request with a personalized message and tagging those in your network to articles that would interest them. One of the obvious benefits of networking is fast-tracking your career growth and improving your communication skills.

You never know who someone may be able to connect you to or what you might learn. Take the time to find the right type of networking strategy for you and focus on making it a positive experience. In doing so, networking will become less of a hassle and more of a fun opportunity to improve yourself. Intern Etiquette: How to Impress at the Workplace. Finding Paid Internships Abroad: Guide updated.

Be the first one to hear our global opportunities, latest news and updates. Get Blog Updates. What is networking? Importance of networking Interacting with people from different professions, nationalities, and cultures gives you a broader scope of life. An Undeniable Benefit of Networking One of the undeniable benefits of networking is its impact on your business or career. How to start networking Sleeping as an introvert and waking up as an extrovert is impossible.

How to network successfully Implementing your most comfortable approach will fast-track your networking goals. Networking means to think outside the box Networking is not just about receiving or asking; the best way to connect is by giving.

Conclusion One of the obvious benefits of networking is fast-tracking your career growth and improving your communication skills. Have any additional networking tips to share? Let us know below! Don't forget to share this post! Julia Hurtado Having spent an entire summer dedicated to travelling abroad, Julia now focuses on helping other students experience life outside their home country.

As an American now working in London, Julia enjoys sharing advice on interning abroad, sipping tea with 2 sugars, 1 milk please and reading in her spare time.

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