Scoring job interviews and growing your professional career is not as easy as some people think. For many job seekers, it can feel like you’re running around in circles, submitting countless job applications that go nowhere. Fortunately, over the years, people have figured out the value of networking and winning people over to build connections. In fact, effective networking can lead to significant growth in your career.
So, how do you network effectively? Well, one way to do that is to know what not to do. These mistakes may be common, but they’re not unavoidable. Here are some pitfalls you should watch out for when networking for a job.
Networking Only When You Need a Job
Networking has benefits beyond just getting that job interview. If you only build connections when you need to land a job, then you’re not focusing on the long-term. Continue to expand your network and strengthen your relationships — you’ll never know when you might need some help to achieve your career goals.
Each person you connect with can offer insights or share experiences that could help you with any challenges you face or are facing. With a strong and established network, you’d be surprised at your growth, both professionally and personally.
Underestimating the Power of Follow-Up
One important component of networking is nurturing your connections. The problem is that many job seekers fail to follow up with their contacts just because they don’t want to be seen as pesky or annoying. But if they agreed to provide support or offered to help, then there’s no harm in reaching out to them again!
Remember that networking doesn’t end with the final goodbye of the night. In order to make communication easier, you need to regularly engage with the people you’ve talked to in the past. For example, bringing them along to different events or inviting them for a cup of coffee can help nurture that connection. Even something as simple as sending them a message showing your appreciation and interest in staying connected can go a long way.
Neglecting To Offer Help in Return
Don’t make your networking opportunities all about you. Instead of only focusing on how the person can help you, think of how you can also give back to them. Offer some insights based on your experiences. Give helpful advice. Keep in mind that you’re doing this to form meaningful connections, not just to gather names and business cards.
Being Inauthentic or Dishonest
You may think that one little white lie is harmless, but when those little lies pile up, they can be catastrophic. Think of trust as a foundation, and each lie is a hammer slowly chipping away at it. You wouldn’t want the entire building to crumble down on you, would you? Networking is all about building meaningful and significant connections. You can’t achieve something meaningful and long-lasting with a foundation full of lies.
No matter how small those lies may seem, they can be detrimental to your reputation. People will start seeing you as ingenuine or even deceptive, which could be damaging to your professional career. Just be honest and be yourself. People will respect you more for it.
Forgetting To Thank People
In the excitement of securing a connection or landing a job, it’s easy to forget to express gratitude. However, one of the last things you want is for others to perceive you as ungrateful or rude. Being respectful and kind to those around you costs nothing, and in fact, it can make people appreciate you even more. Whenever someone offers to help, always remember to thank them.
Networking isn’t the magic solution to your career problems, but it definitely helps you build the right foundation and opens you up to so many opportunities. It’s a great and effective tool as long as you do it right. Watch out for these networking pitfalls and keep practicing. The more you do it, the better you get at avoiding these common mistakes. You’ve got this!