At one point or another, we all have heard the saying “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” However, this isn’t really the case in the professional world. Both parts weigh in significantly, at least when it comes to finding a job and planning for your career success. What you know makes you the reference person in your job, but whom you know can take you to new places.
Who you know is all about your network, whether it is on a personal or professional level. As a job seeker or a professional in the workplace, you have heard about networking, read some articles about it, and have probably been advised through career counselling before to make use of it. The real question here that everyone often thinks about is why is it so important and how can I expand my network?
Networking is a powerful tool that opens doors and brings out hidden opportunities. It can show you a world of new jobs and opportunities, enhance your chances of landing one of those jobs and open your eyes to other opportunities you may be interested in or might have never thought about pursuing.
At first, creating and building a professional network seems challenging, and where to start from sounds like an overwhelming endeavour. However, the good news here is, Bayt.com, the largest job site in the region, can guide you and show you how easy networking is and can be.
Everyone is grateful for the Internet era and the social media networks they can easily access. Thus, networking in the professional field is also very doable! It was never this easy to build a professional network and get your name out there as it has become with the interconnectedness of today. A wide professional network can allow you to discover more opportunities if you are a current job seeker, or to attract more clients resulting in increased sales if you are a sales professional or a business owner for example.
Creating your professional network must be done online and offline, and this can be done in many different ways. Here are the most common ones according to career experts at Bayt.com:
1. Be active on job site
Having a profile and being active on job sites like Bayt.com is your first ticket to accessing a huge pool of opportunities. These job sites aren’t only for active job seekers. Those who are passively browsing or simply want to remain open for growth and new opportunities will find a lot of value on these sites. You can connect with other professionals, read the latest research and updates from your industry, and keep your eyes on career changing opportunities that open up every day.
2. Social media platforms
Be active on those platforms as they are overflowing with information and industry updates. Everyday, you can find hundreds of questions that you can either ask or answer. You can share your own articles and write your own blogs, or perhaps create videos that can show the world something you are good at. Use them to expand your professional network without even leaving your desk.
3. Volunteer
Volunteering doesn’t only mean helping out people in your local community or supporting a cause you care about, it is also a great opportunity to change your work routine and meet people from different backgrounds and have different career prospects. Through volunteering you are hitting multiple stones at the same time, but most importantly, you are meeting many individuals who have similar interests can open up many doors for your career journey.
4. Join conferences and events
Professional events are always a great place to connect and share different ideas and perspectives with others from similar and new industries. Think about a conference, a workshop, a job fair or any career related event taking place in your area. Never limit yourself in your own industry or job role, as others will be useful connections through out your career journey.
5. Personal branding
The common thought about “branding” is that it is associated with products or companies exclusively. However, the truth is, you can actually build your own brand. That’s when people recognize you when your name or job title is mentioned in public. When your personal brand is built right, you’ll reach a point where people are eager and curious to know who you are and want to connect with you, and this indeed is a way of expanding your professional network.
Also, remember that getting a job and going through your career journey have one thing in common, which is recognition. Branding yourself will help you gain recognition, build a reputation and control the message or idea that people get when they hear or read your name.
