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What is the best way to network?
I am a high school senior.
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4 answers
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Zobair’s Answer
The best way to network is to provide value in advance, without any hope of return.
What skills do you have? How can you help people in any way?
Join any social media platform and start building your account by providing value. If you are interested in web designing, or video-editing, or cooking, or sports ... just start posting your stuff in a way that could be either valuable or entertaining or both.
LinkedIn is considered to be the NUMBER#1 networking platform in the world. Make an account there, optimize the profile, connect with as many like-minded people as you can, add experience, education, certs, awards, and start posting highly valuable content. Just start, you'll get improved on the way.
Last, never miss a conference, meeting, seminar, webinar, online or offline. Never expect someone to shake hand with you. YOU have to project yourself. YOU have to proceed and shake hand and introduce yourself. YOU have to compliment others first, thank others first. Doesn't matter if you are an introvert or extrovert, nobody cares. Nor should you.
Go, and conquer the world!
Provide value. Help others
Join online social platforms. Like, comment, and share good stuff.
LinkedIn
Attend conferences, meeting, programs, seminars, webinars, events.
Be the first to shake hands. Be the first to compliment, thank, and question. Be bold. Nobody cares!
What skills do you have? How can you help people in any way?
Join any social media platform and start building your account by providing value. If you are interested in web designing, or video-editing, or cooking, or sports ... just start posting your stuff in a way that could be either valuable or entertaining or both.
LinkedIn is considered to be the NUMBER#1 networking platform in the world. Make an account there, optimize the profile, connect with as many like-minded people as you can, add experience, education, certs, awards, and start posting highly valuable content. Just start, you'll get improved on the way.
Last, never miss a conference, meeting, seminar, webinar, online or offline. Never expect someone to shake hand with you. YOU have to project yourself. YOU have to proceed and shake hand and introduce yourself. YOU have to compliment others first, thank others first. Doesn't matter if you are an introvert or extrovert, nobody cares. Nor should you.
Go, and conquer the world!
Zobair recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, Zobair for the advice.
Z
Great advice 🙌🏻
Give what you’re good
Don’t expect a return
Sofia Faria
Updated
Chelsea’s Answer
Networking is very easy for some, and difficult for others. I used to feel awkward at networking events knowing that everyone there was kind of sucking up to each other in hopes it would pay off later. In reality, we were all there for a common purpose- to meet others and learn something new! Ask for business cards and write down on them how you met that person. L inkedIn is a great platform that is different than facebook or twitter. It is more professional and HR truly does take a peek to see if you have a profile. On that note, clean up your social media and get rid of anything that could look..questionable to a hiring manager.
Thank you for the advice.
Z
Updated
Olivia’s Answer
When considering 'networking' it is a hugely broad topic so it's tricky to know the context of your question and therefore how to answer. Let me try answer it is a couple of ways.
1) What is the best way to network? In terms of; what digital channel and how to get out there. How to find opportunities where you can meet people in order to network.
There are many ways to network these days; Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other digital platform (we are on a networking site now). Typically, what is important online to get started is, to find groups that interest you, join them and start to get into the conversation by commenting on other peoples posts and liking their comments. Then, post a well-considered, relevant post to get discussion going. Connect with lots of relevant people to build your network up to increase your impact. Start to observe which kinds of posts and engagements are more popular than others and repeat that type of engagement in the future. All of this is important for your digital brand regardless of networking.
However, digital networking is different from networking in person. Networking is person is more important to build longer term, more meaningful, significant connections. These are the types of relationships that can result in a job or career, or even a friendship. For this type of networking, you need to jump back onto the forums talked about before but looking for meetups, meetings, or events instead. Take time to find and attend plenty of events in the fields you are interested in. Before you go, think about the topic, read up on it so you have meaningless perceptives when asked and think about how smart you need to dress, it is always best to be the most smartly dress one in the room than the most casual.
2) What is the best way to network? In terms of; how to open a conversation or interaction.
So, I feel this is already answered in the context of digital interaction so I will talk more about face to face. So, you arrive at an event that you are interested in and have researched beforehand. You need to remember, everybody is also there to network and they are just as nervous as you are when starting conversations up.
The best way to encourage someone to speak to you in good eye contact and a smiling, positive face. People are drawn to positive, open people. At networking events, there are often lots of drinks stations and high tables to stand around for conversation. Go to a table with people at. You may wish to practice your conversation starting skills on a table with fewer people at first. If you do see a person alone, look to see if they look busy on their laptop or phone, they might be too busy to talk to you and approaching them might lead to them awkwardly telling you they are busy. It is also a great idea to approach a table with a group of people engaging in a conversation. Move into the circle and just politely listen at first with interest. Eventually, it is likely someone will say hi and ask you about yourself. Otherwise, you can politely enter the discussion with the person speaking with a relevant comment. Then you can say, 'oh sorry, I didn't introduce myself, I'm xxxx, nice to meet you'. In the case where you want to initiate a discussion (for example at the water cooler), you can simply ask, 'hi, nice to meet you, what brings you to this event today?' and then you are in.... simple.
So, like I said, I'm not sure of the context of your question so I hope my answer answered what you were looking for, if not, please feel free to ask me more. Otherwise, good luck networking! Hope you grow to love it as much as I do. I even started my own friends networking group and met new people there.
1) What is the best way to network? In terms of; what digital channel and how to get out there. How to find opportunities where you can meet people in order to network.
There are many ways to network these days; Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other digital platform (we are on a networking site now). Typically, what is important online to get started is, to find groups that interest you, join them and start to get into the conversation by commenting on other peoples posts and liking their comments. Then, post a well-considered, relevant post to get discussion going. Connect with lots of relevant people to build your network up to increase your impact. Start to observe which kinds of posts and engagements are more popular than others and repeat that type of engagement in the future. All of this is important for your digital brand regardless of networking.
However, digital networking is different from networking in person. Networking is person is more important to build longer term, more meaningful, significant connections. These are the types of relationships that can result in a job or career, or even a friendship. For this type of networking, you need to jump back onto the forums talked about before but looking for meetups, meetings, or events instead. Take time to find and attend plenty of events in the fields you are interested in. Before you go, think about the topic, read up on it so you have meaningless perceptives when asked and think about how smart you need to dress, it is always best to be the most smartly dress one in the room than the most casual.
2) What is the best way to network? In terms of; how to open a conversation or interaction.
So, I feel this is already answered in the context of digital interaction so I will talk more about face to face. So, you arrive at an event that you are interested in and have researched beforehand. You need to remember, everybody is also there to network and they are just as nervous as you are when starting conversations up.
The best way to encourage someone to speak to you in good eye contact and a smiling, positive face. People are drawn to positive, open people. At networking events, there are often lots of drinks stations and high tables to stand around for conversation. Go to a table with people at. You may wish to practice your conversation starting skills on a table with fewer people at first. If you do see a person alone, look to see if they look busy on their laptop or phone, they might be too busy to talk to you and approaching them might lead to them awkwardly telling you they are busy. It is also a great idea to approach a table with a group of people engaging in a conversation. Move into the circle and just politely listen at first with interest. Eventually, it is likely someone will say hi and ask you about yourself. Otherwise, you can politely enter the discussion with the person speaking with a relevant comment. Then you can say, 'oh sorry, I didn't introduce myself, I'm xxxx, nice to meet you'. In the case where you want to initiate a discussion (for example at the water cooler), you can simply ask, 'hi, nice to meet you, what brings you to this event today?' and then you are in.... simple.
So, like I said, I'm not sure of the context of your question so I hope my answer answered what you were looking for, if not, please feel free to ask me more. Otherwise, good luck networking! Hope you grow to love it as much as I do. I even started my own friends networking group and met new people there.
Updated
John’s Answer
Networking is about building relationships. You don't have to bring value when you start networking (and you likely won't have a lot of "value" to add early on). That's ok! You don't become successful without other people and most people look to pass on the advice they have received or learned to others.
I recommend start by talking to your friend's parents (if any of the work they do interests you) or ask your parents to help you meet people through their work. You can have over the phone conversations to learn about their work, where they went to school, and what they would do differently looking back.
If you are asking people to give you a job, that's not networking. Networking is about getting to know people, learning, and building real relationships. Eventually, you may ask the people you meet for a favor (such as, at the end of the conversation, ask them if there is anyone else they would recommend you meet with). However, the primary focus of these initial discussions is to learn.
I recommend start by talking to your friend's parents (if any of the work they do interests you) or ask your parents to help you meet people through their work. You can have over the phone conversations to learn about their work, where they went to school, and what they would do differently looking back.
If you are asking people to give you a job, that's not networking. Networking is about getting to know people, learning, and building real relationships. Eventually, you may ask the people you meet for a favor (such as, at the end of the conversation, ask them if there is anyone else they would recommend you meet with). However, the primary focus of these initial discussions is to learn.
Thank you so much, John!
Z