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Networking: Fruitful Connection Management


Definition, Explanation

Networks are structures of elements that are connected by certain relations. A networker is characterized by the ability to build a relationship-network, to systematically extend it, and to use created relations for his individual goals. In this context, networking in the world of business and employment means

  • to find free jobs, even non-advertized ones, easier within one’s period of applying
  • to exchange ideas and support with others who are in similar situations like unemployment, business starting, parental leave
  • to acquire customers, as a self-employed
  • to make career
  • to interchange on specific topics, to find solutions, to get feedback, to gain access to specialist knowledge thus expanding one’s own abilities. The latter is a specialty of competence networks

Particularly online networks are a realization of Stanley Milgram’s idea of the “small world phenomenon”: everybody is connected to everybody by at least 6 connections in between. This makes such contacts accessible by networking which would be out of reach without.

Kinds of networks

  • Regional versus cross-regional networks
  • Closed, exclusive/exceptional versus open networks
  • Informal versus formal networks
  • Networks specialized in professions or business sectors, serving professional knowledge exchange
  • Mixed networks, good for getting jobs and clients
  • Offline networks like entrepreneurs’ networks
  • Closed networks, in which new members are only accepted with an invitation by a member
  • Open networks, free to access for everyone
  • Online communities and online social networks with tools like email, chat (instant messaging), forums
  • Private networks growing from family relations, friends, acquaintances, club members or connections with like-minded in honorary work
  • Alumni-networks in universities
  • Company-internal networks as intranet or companies’ forums
  • Clubs and associations
  • Professional fairs, job markets, events

Chances and use of social networks

  • Quickly finding the right contact for professional and personal questions
  • Openness and transparency yields mutual efficiency increase
  • Encouragement of individual creativity
  • Employers look for ideal candidates in the respective networks

Problems about social networks

  • Distraction from the essence by a lot of small talk
  • Passing on of confidential and company-specific know-how
  • Personal data one has provided is accessible for everybody on the web. Some employers use this fact to get information about applicants

Networking is a skill that is important for a successful career.

Tips, Checklist

General advice:

  • Start networking early, best in school already
  • Set yourself clear goals and choose the related networks with care
  • Consider that groups differing from you can be of greater use for you than groups of people who are in the same situation. Unemployed-groups can not be used for finding a new job
  • Write elaborated brief introductions to arouse people’s curiosity. Show your competences. Think of how you can be valuable and useful to the other
  • Especially in first contact, small talk is important. Find commonalities
  • Play an active part in the networks
  • Networking is giving and receiving. Be mindful of how you help others, give them information, or establish contacts for them
  • Never assume to get valuable information or contacts for free
  • Be interested in the others
  • Enjoy networking
  • Mind the rules of the network
  • Take your time for maintaining your contacts
  • When you meet someone new, always hand over your card
  • Collect addresses and try to keep in contact at least loosely with most of the people, or even establish stable friendship
  • Consider that benefit of networks will normally come only when you have made some contacts. Before this time, people have to gain understanding of one another
  • In case of need, ask others for support. Accept a No.
  • Never forget to say Thank You for talks, tips, and established contacts
  • Train your communicative skills, from small talk to active listening
  • Attention: The so-called gifting clubs are disguised Ponzi schemes in chain letter fashion, often embellished with emancipatory or spiritual ideas. Those are no networks that can help you in your working life
  • Networking consumes a lot of time. For all the networking, do not neglect your family and your free time

Networking in online networks:

  • The largest and best-known online business network is XING. Other networks are listed in “Information Sources”
  • Choose platforms according to your needs and requirements
  • Fill in the profile data completely, and provide an appropriate photo of yours. The more information you provide, the more likely you will be contacted by others, and the more you rule out contacts of unwanted kinds
  • Maintain your profiles, keep them up to date
  • Do not permit comments in your profile. Consider that not all entries you have made are generally visible to everyone. Often, platforms allow selective uncovering to specific groups or selected users
  • Look for contacts systematically. Accost them directly and point out why you are wanting the contact and what benefit might arise for either side
  • Invest some time
  • Besides the online networking, also make some personal contact to the people
  • Use the online platforms to reactivate old contacts that you do not have (anymore)
  • Be selective! Not the mass but the class of your contacts is what counts
  • Pay attention
    • to what kind of individual data you publish. By no means indicate false qualification, alcohol or drug abuse
    • Be aware of the style in which you write comments and entries. It yields insights about your communicative skills
    • Be sure not to discriminate
    • Be sure not to publish confidential information about former employers/colleagues
    • Choose well the groups you join

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Last update: 03/29/2010
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