Networking is a crucial skill for anyone looking to advance their career, discover professional opportunities, change career directions, or simply meet new people. In today’s interconnected world, having a robust professional network can make all the difference in achieving your career goals.
What is networking?
In the context of career growth, networking means building and maintaining professional relationships that can provide mutual benefits, such as sharing information, resources, opportunities, and support. It involves connecting with colleagues, industry peers, mentors, potential clients, and other stakeholders through various channels, including in-person events, online platforms, and social gatherings.
There may be a stereotypical networking scenario that arises in your mind when you think of the word—maybe formally-dressed people exchanging business cards at a convention, or strangers spamming you on LinkedIn. But networking has always happened in many more places than those. And today, with the diversity of ways that people connect with each other, there are nearly endless versions of what “networking” can mean.
Networking can happen anywhere, including:
- Mentorship programs
- Social media
- Webinars and online workshops, especially when they have discussion forums for student interaction
- Professional courses
- Volunteer work
- Online forums/discussion groups
- Collaborative projects
- Alumni groups
- Industry conferences
- Professional association
- Meetups
- Trade shows
- Company events
- Networking apps
- Giving or attending talks or presentations
- Writing articles
- Informational interviews
- Career fairs
- Hackathons
- Coworking spaces
- Business incubators
- Book clubs
- Professional panels
- Peer review groups
- Study groups
- Retreats
- Informal coffee meetings
- Chamber of Commerce events
- Speed networking events
- Industry podcasts: listening, engaging, guesting, hosting
- Judging or entering competitions
- Public speaking clubs
- LinkedIn groups
- Company newsletters
- Blogs: writing and commenting
- Cross-functional teams
- Collaborative research projects
- Internships and apprenticeships
- Freelancing platforms
- Content creation
- Job shadowing
Why networking is important
There are conflicting statistics about the percentage of jobs filled through personal and professional contacts, rather than listed publicly, but most of the estimates are not small. A strong network is a boon to job-seekers, especially an authentically cultivated network built over the years. But it’s never too late to start reaching out and building the network you’d like to be part of.
We often think of networking in conjunction with finding a job, but professional networks offer many benefits at all career stages. Beyond job opportunities, networks can provide:
- Knowledge sharing: A robust network can be a valuable resource for exchanging ideas, learning from others, and keeping up with industry trends.
- Skill development: Professional associations, workshops, volunteering, etc., present opportunities to hone skills outside your regular job tasks.
- Visibility and reputation-building: Being active in your professional network can lead to recognition, speaking opportunities, more high-profile projects, and enhanced credibility and influence.
- Support system: Having mentors and peers to turn to can help you navigate career obstacles more effectively.
- Social health and friendship: Because networking introduces you to people with similar interests and goals, the personal/professional boundary sometimes blurs. You may end up finding good friends through professional networking.
The #1 way to make networking easier
The one adjustment that can make networking less painful across personality types is to change your mindset about what networking actually means. When you view networking as simply something you have to do to get the thing you want, you’re going to treat it as a chore. Networking is not a means to an end. It is a life-long project of connecting to others and building community.
The first mindset adjustment is to realize you don’t have to fit into a stereotypical networking mold. Instead, you can find the networking opportunities that energize rather than drain you. Look at the list of networking types above. That is just the beginning! If you do best in one-on-one conversations, schedule a coffee meeting or video chat with someone. If you like the excitement of groups, attend or organize a meetup. Maybe you prefer getting to know people when there’s an activity rather than unstructured talk time. In that case, go to a game night or take a class or join a hackathon. There are networking opportunities that match the priorities and energies of each personality type.
The second mindset adjustment is to realize that networking doesn’t mean taking what you need and moving on. It is as much giving as getting. What can you offer to your network? Being a mentor: that’s networking. Connecting two acquaintances with similar interests: that’s networking. Develop your “help fluency,” suggests the Harvard Business Review — the ways you can assist your network.
So much of networking feels like asking for things, so offering your knowledge, skills, advice, or expertise is a way to differentiate yourself and build deeper connections with people who may help grow your career down the line.
In the natural world, networks are often wide-ranging and beneficial systems—think of mutualism or mycorrhizal fungi. Instead of just taking, how can you find your vital yet interconnected place in the web?
Networking tips for introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts
Because networking has the reputation of being an extrovert’s game, people are always seeking networking tips for introverts. It’s helpful to remember that people in all positions of the introvert-extrovert continuum have natural traits that can help them with networking.
For example, an extrovert who gets energy from being around people might thrive at a happy hour mixer. A more introverted person might enjoy the event, or might not—either way, they will need some time alone to recharge afterward.
Introverts, depending on their other personality traits, may thrive with the more “administrative” tasks of networking that extroverts can find draining. These are important actions like following up an informational interview with a thoughtful and sincere thank-you email, or cultivating an online network by blogging and commenting on others’ blogs.
In short, networking isn’t just swapping business cards at conventions. It actually encompasses a broad range of experiences and behaviors, some of which you may not even realize are networking. This means that everyone has some aspects of networking that are easier and others that are more exhausting. It’s just that these differ from person to person. The key is to learn your natural networking strengths and practice stretching into areas you’re less excited about.
Introversion/extroversion and DiSC
Learning to stretch into other personality styles while remaining true to your own is a cornerstone of the Everything DiSC model. We offer networking tips organized by DiSC style—D style, i style, S style, C style—but these can easily apply to anyone looking for networking tips for introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts. Although DiSC doesn’t directly assess introversion and extroversion using those terms, these personality traits show up in the model in different ways.
Research performed by Wiley, the publisher of Everything DiSC, shows that the Extroversion-to-Introversion scales of both The Big Five/Five-Factor model of personality and the MBTI/Myers-Briggs Type Indicator map onto the Everything DiSC circumplex in a statistically meaningful way. So, DiSC C-style people are more likely to be introverts, and DiSC i-style people more likely to be extroverts:
Tips for networking on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one of the world’s largest professional networks, with over 930 million users based in over 200 countries across the globe. It’s also a hub where companies go to find and recruit strong candidates for their open positions. If you’re looking to expand your network, but don’t feel totally comfortable with in-person networking situations, LinkedIn could be a great option.
However, with such a big professional network at your fingertips, it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, we have some tips!
1. Build a profile you’re proud of
When you wake up in the morning, you probably feel more confident and ready to take on the day when you put on an outfit that makes you feel good. Sometimes, making sure that what you’re presenting to the world matches how you feel on the inside can help boost your mood and confidence.
This same principle can be applied to networking on LinkedIn. When you know your profile is a well-crafted reflection of you and your career aspirations, you feel more ready to dive into the platform and make some new connections.
Giving some attention to your LinkedIn profile can help you develop confidence and comfort with reaching out to people on LinkedIn. It can also ensure that connections you’re making have a clear understanding of your career interests and goals. When potential connections view your LinkedIn profile, it’s like giving them your resume before you even start a conversation with them. A profile that clearly communicates your interests and skills can ultimately help you have more intentional conversations with connections and recruiters alike.
2. Start by adding people you know, then check “people you may know”
After you build your profile, make a list of people you know from your professional life. They could be friends from your university, colleagues from a current or past position, vendors or clients you’ve worked with, etc. Put together a list of around 10 people you feel comfortable adding to your network. Add those people, and then pop over to “My network” –> “People you may know”. Here, you’ll find other people you might have come across in your schooling or work life. This can help you expand your network and find connections that you may have forgotten about.
3. Join groups
LinkedIn has groups where professionals with similar interests or industry associations can share questions, ideas, and relatable memes. There are LinkedIn groups for:
- Professionals in a specific industry (Financial services, Tech, Education, etc.)
- Professionals working in a specific job function (HR, Marketing, Analytics, etc.)
- Alumni from particular high schools or colleges
- Founders of start-ups or new businesses
- Members of different types of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
Joining groups can help you meet people who you already have a few things in common with. Starting a networking conversation can feel more natural when you already have a point of connection. It gives you something to talk about straight from the jump!
Joining groups can also help you break into industries or jobs that you want to get into in the future. If you don’t already have connections in these spaces, you can locate a group on LinkedIn to find some. People in these groups could have advice, insights into what it’s actually like to work in that industry, and other members of their network they can connect you to.
On LinkedIn, some connections or interactions might be dead ends, but others might lead you to a wealth of information and opportunity!
4. Send intentional, personalized connection requests
Networking online is a unique experience because you can attempt to make a professional connection with anyone, in any city, from any industry. If there’s a professional in your ideal position at your dream company, you can probably find that person and connect with them on LinkedIn.
Doing some basic research can help you take a more intentional approach to sending connection requests. It can also help you personalize those requests to ensure they’re honest, effective, and compelling enough to get you a thoughtful response.
Researching people you want to add to your network and sending connection requests can be a highly customized process. Different people require different approaches. (TIP: Take a look at their profile- if they list their DiSC style, use that and cater your message to their priorities!) If you’re lost about where to start, you’re not alone! Here’s a solid step-by-step process you can use as you grow your comfort level with networking on LinkedIn:
- Search for people who match what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for people in HR in Boston, you could enter the query “HR Boston” and filter your results down to people.
- Click on the person’s profile and learn more about their experience.
- Think about what action you want this person to take. Do you want them to answer specific questions for you? Do you want to pick their brains about a topic or industry over a virtual coffee? Do you want to get their feedback on a product you’re developing? Decide what you want to get out of the interaction. Write down your “ask.”
- If this person’s profile matches what you’re looking for, send them a connection request with a message that mentions who you are, and what about their experience makes you want to connect with them. Include the “ask” you came up with in step 3. You can always utilize templates while you’re building your confidence but do your best to add some personal touches!
5. Engage with your network
Engaging with your network on LinkedIn regularly will help you continue to build relationships beyond that initial connection request. Continue to comment on their posts and congratulate them on milestones and good news. You could also consider sharing their original content if it inspires you or aligns with your interests. These interactions are immediately accessible on LinkedIn, and they help you build long-lasting, mutually beneficial connections.
Use DiSC to discover your networking style
Networking will get easier and more fruitful the more self-awareness you have. That’s because you’ll understand how to work within your innate strengths and challenges. You’ll also gain perspective on personality types different from your own, helping you connect with more people.
If you don’t know your DiSC style, start with the Everything DiSC Workplace assessment, which will give you a 20-page report about your personality type and how to connect with others. Those looking for continued networking skills development can find guidance from the Everything DiSC Agile EQ and Everything DiSC Sales tools.
Here are some relevant next reads with networking tips for different personalities:
Networking tips by DiSC style:
- D styles: 10 networking tips
- i styles: 10 networking tips
- S styles: 10 networking tips
- C styles: 10 networking tips
Everything DiSC profiles teach you how to stretch your style so you can call upon personality traits that don’t come naturally to you. Learn how to be more:
Personality assessments are a great way to learn what makes you you. With this self-knowledge, you can present yourself in a clear and authentic way to others. You can find the networking situations that you most enjoy and navigate them wisely, building a robust network to support you, wherever your career takes you next.
