HOW TO MARKET YOURSELF TO EMPLOYERS
NETWORKING LINKEDIN 101: AT EVENTS: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE Networking can be pretty confusing: where to start, what to do, where to go? Here are some ideas for you to explore!
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s a graduate jobseeker, you’ve probably already heard of your fair share of seniors, peers and career advisors chanting: “Network, network, network if you want to succeed!”. Yet, ironically, networking events can be incredibly daunting, turning even the most eloquent of us into awkward stutterers. After all, aside from the need to obtain information from new acquaintances, you’re also pressured to juggle building new connections, strengthening old ones and maintaining a professional image in front of potential employers. With so much multitasking going on — with your future at stake, too — it’s understandable why you may find yourself so anxious during such events. How do I start a conversation with someone? Can I join that group that started their conversation fifteen minutes ago or would it be rude? Wow, that’s a big shot CEO — should I even approach him for a conversation? Ack, awkward pause — what do I say now?! That said, the rewards you reap from good networking are definitely worth the effort it takes to overcome all this apprehension! Here are some tips to help you boost your networking skills:
Prepare and Practise Networking is not something that comes naturally to anyone, not even the most extroverted of us. It is, in fact, a learnable skill that requires constant practice. Of course, that’s not to say that you should start talking to your reflection in the mirror! Most of your contacts can typically be divided into the following categories: Casual networks: contacts who you've met at open networking events or mixed industry events Knowledge networks: contacts from professional associations that cater to the improvement and regulation of a specific industry Strong contact networks: contacts from groups established exclusively for building professional relationships Online networks: contacts who you know from social media platforms
Use these categories as a guideline to help you expand your networks but remember: you don’t necessarily need to collect contacts in all four categories to succeed in your job search. Instead, expand the different categories according to the need of your desired job. For example, if you’re looking for employment as a social media strategist, you might find it more beneficial for you to 96 | SIM CAREER GUIDE 2020
Focus on your “VCP” have more contacts from the knowledge and online networks instead of casual networks. Alternatively, marketing people might find the opposite to be more useful. That said, you can flex your interaction and networking muscle with any of these contacts as you’ll be using the same skills. The ability to make small talk, for instance, is a crucial skill that you’ll need to have when networking. You can start by practising with friends, people you meet during student club activities or recruiters at career fairs. Try to keep abreast of current issues as they are good conversation starters. When in doubt, ask the other party questions about themselves. We all love talking about ourselves, after all! Your university’s careers services centre may also organise workshops or courses on successful networking. These events are almost always free to current students, so why not attend one or two to clock in some hours of guided practice? Start early because you can’t learn how to be a good networker overnight. It takes plenty of trial-and-error to find an approach that works best for you. Ultimately, it’s all about rehearsing to the point that you’re confident enough to carry a conversation during any networking session while still being yourself.
Although it’s true that the purpose of networking is for you to obtain a favour or opportunity from your contacts but the sentiment behind these relationships is very real. You need to develop not just familiarity with your contacts but also trust before you can request anything from them. In other words, networking is a long-term investment of trust and confidence between individuals. There are three primary components to this: Visibility: your contact needs to know who you are Credibility: your contact needs to know your intentions, character and capabilities Profitability: your contact needs to know that they can trust you enough that they’re willing to help you
Recruiters don’t expect new graduates to be overachievers but they want to see your interest in them and their company as well as your sincerity in applying. Make it a point to show up at multiple company events. Approach them and make your interest in the company clear and consistent. If possible, always take the time to catch up with the same individuals who you’ve approached before so that you can develop a rapport with them.
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