Professional or career networking involves establishing and building valuable or professional connections with people in your profession or industry. With it, a person has the ability to learn about career opportunities that can be helpful for their growth. When it comes to networking, it requires deliberate efforts in terms of seeking, creating and maintaining relationships with people who can help you advance your career. Jackline Iribagiza, a counsellor and matron at Martyrs school in Remera says when one puts themselves out there to meet other people, they are definitely stepping outside their comfort zone and building invaluable social skills and self-confidence that they can take with them anywhere. Also, she says the more one networks, the more they will grow and learn how to make lasting connections. Aminadhad Niyonshuti, an English teacher in Kigali believes that when it’s done well, networking will not only help you land a job faster, but also give you a competitive edge throughout every stage of your career. He says while a professional network can help one find leads when you are job searching, one can advance their career, which is as vital. According to studies, Networking helps one develop and improve their skill set in general, and that the most connected people are often the most successful. Besides, one is also able to stay on top of the latest trends in their industry, meet prospective mentors, partners, and clients as well as gain access to the necessary resources that will foster their career development. How it should be done From various studies, when you are choosing a career, it is essential to gather information about the occupations you are considering. While there are resources to explore your options, one of the best ways to learn about a career is by conducting an informational interview with someone who is currently working in it. You can look to your network for help in getting people to interview. An article on the Balance Careers website ‘How to build and maintain a professional network’ indicates that while a professional network can, of course, help you find leads when you are job searching, there is a multitude of other ways a solid one can help advance your career. Here are just a few of them: Find prospective job candidates: If you are responsible for hiring, your contacts can help put you in touch with prospective job candidates. You can also learn about applicants that did not come through your network. Get advice about a project: Are you worried about tackling a work project with which you have no experience? A member of your network who has done a similar one may be able to offer advice or put you in touch with someone who can. One note of caution, don’t share confidential information. Learn about a prospective employer: Always prepare for job interviews by researching prospective employers. You can learn a lot by talking to members of your network and their contacts. Prepare to make pitches to clients: Do you need to learn about a prospective client? One of your contacts may be able to help, but again be cautious about sharing confidential information outside your organisation. Don’t treat your network like a dusty old reference book to store on a shelf and only access when you need to look something up. It is a living thing that must be tended or it will die. The last thing you want is to get in touch with someone who doesn’t remember you or to miss out on a great opportunity because your contact who knows about it doesn’t think of you. Make plans to get together with any connections with whom you have, or had, a personal relationship, for example, former co-workers. If they aren’t local, make sure there is a standing invitation to meet up with them if they are ever in your city or you are in theirs.
