From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Networking

From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Networking

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- Would you like access to job offers or be invited as a speaker for a fee at an upcoming event? How about gaining insights into other organizations and fields of business? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and you probably did, networking is your ticket. By definition, professional networking is a deliberate activity to build, reinforce, and maintain relationships of trust with other people to further your goals. In terms of administrative support professionals, we don't always network as part of our role, but it's crucial in shaping and advancing our career paths. Jonathan Long, founder of Market Domination Media, offers eight tips to help grow your network that I have found helpful. I have found these effective for professionals who don't have much networking experience or to whom networking does not come naturally. They are, first, make your presence noticeable. It's important that people know what you are doing and what you have in the works. You can do this by keeping in touch with your professional contacts via email, social media, and face-to-face meetings. Second, attend networking events, both on and offline. Every industry has conferences that provide networking opportunities. There are also local meetups and organizations that hold regular events for building your network. Third, hang out at the same places the people you want to connect with can be found. This creates an opportunity to strike up conversation and connect. This could be online as well as offline. Fourth, networking isn't just about receiving, it's about giving as well. It's important for you to share your knowledge and expertise and offer to help when you see an opportunity. There is actually a term for this. It is called positive networking, which means discovering what you can do for someone else. In other words, networking is not about you and how others can help you, instead, it's about others and how you can help them. You could also serve as a connector by introducing people you know. Fifth, be a good listener. We shouldn't try to dominate the conversation by talking about ourselves primarily. We should, instead, listen to other people talk. People naturally love to talk about themselves, so if you can show that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say, it will help to build that connection. Six, we shouldn't be afraid to ask for what we need. It's better to be direct in this area and to be upfront. The answer could be a resounding yes. Seven, you should be thinking about cultivating long-term relationships that are mutually beneficial for both sides. By fostering these types of connections, over time you may experience multiple ways in which you can help each other that you can't even begin to imagine currently. Lastly, you should follow up with everyone you connect with. This can be done by email, letting the person know it was a pleasure to meet with them. I have personally used networking in several instances to land paid speaking engagements and job opportunities. Most recently, after I won an award for an administrative professional development program that I created, I stayed in touch with several people in the organization. That connection resulted in my speaking at their conference, three years in a row. Building your professional network is not about quantity, but rather about quality. You want a rich, diverse network that allows you to give as well as receive and serves as another important tool in your career tool belt. With so many different and viable networking avenues, it's never been easier to get and stay connected.

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