Networking is vital to career growth. Many tremble when they hear the term networking, associating it with awkwardness, cheesy events and the idea of ‘selling yourself ’.
However, career networking should become a part of your daily work and career-related aspiration. Here are a few advantages of networking that you might not have thought about.
Strengthens business and career connections
Networking is about sharing and associating with the right people. The right people are those can assist you with a job search, business development or career move. It can include co-workers, bosses, friends with similar interests, and colleagues from business associations, alumni from your university or your family and neighbors. When you have a good and strong network, your growth is more likely to be more consistent.
Gets you fresh ideas
When you are close to people with the right sense of direction, they are able to offer you ideas to improve your career or business. Ideas that you might not have thought of or that you might have pushed away. Sometimes talking to a few people on your idea can help you strengthen the decisions you are going to make. Two heads are definitely better that one!
Raises your profile & Builds your Confidence
Being visible and getting noticed is a benefit of networking that’s essential in career and business building. Regularly attending professional and social events will help make your face known. You can then help to build your reputation as being a reliable and supportive member of your profession by offering useful information or tips to people who need it. Raising your profile within professional circles will also help you stand out to recruiters and investors who are always on the lookout for strong talent and who may be more likely to approach you with offers.
You get access to job opportunities, career advice and support
Your chances of landing the job increase tenfold with the right referral. Some referrals will land you big opportunities and connect you to people you will need. Sometimes your network may not be in a position to support you but they certainly know someone who can. They will give you access to their network and your chances of landing good deals increases.
People say you need to know people who know people, but what are you doing about it? Are you just sitting waiting for people to come and know you? Take a step to grow your network and you will reap great rewards from it over time.
