Networking is arguably one of the most important aspects to growing your career.

Networking is about building real relationships that promote mutual growth and support. Whether you’re seeking career advancement, looking for guidance, or aiming to influence your industry, networking can play a pivotal role in achieving your goals throughout your career.

Here’s the issue though: the common response I get when I ask how big someone’s network is, they’ll say little to none.

Sure, that may be true, after all most people out there aren’t really trying to meet new people until it’s too late as they’re about to start their job search.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t have a network at all. Chances are, some of it’s already been built.

I’ve known people who have built careers just by networking. They establish great relationships with people at work, and as those people move on, they follow them and move onwards and upwards with them.

Now networking isn’t a magic pill where you start doing it today and you magically get 100 interviews and a job offer.

It takes time, and it’s not an absolute that it will work.

But it sure can accelerate your success as well as increase your chances of landing your next gig greatly.

The Key To Networking

The point of networking is to establish a mutually beneficial relationship.

Where people get this wrong is that they always ask for something without giving some sort of value in return.

The two best ways to do this are:

1. Finding a point of commonality, aka something the two of you have in common

2. Provide value to them first before asking for something in return

You don’t need to barter with people, but you need to provide value to the other person to increase the likelihood they get back to you to provide you with the information you need.

Here’s are a few examples:

• If I’m already working with them or have interacted with them before & they’re local, I’ll offer up coffee or lunch on me. This way we go to a comfortable setting where I can ask them questions on what I’m curious on.

• If I’m sending a cold reachout online, I’ll try to find one point of commonality before sending a message. This can be relating to something on their profile or sending an article I think they might be interested in.

• I’ll check to see if that person is connected with anyone I know, so I can get an introduction and increase the likelihood that person agrees to meet with me.

1: Current & Previous Co-workers

No one is staying at their job for years on end, especially in this day in age.

When someone leaves voluntarily, chances are they’re moving onto bigger and better things. A higher title, more pay, better work life balance, etc.

In some shape or form they’re upgrading.

So go ahead and reach out to these folks. They already know you & your body of work.

If they’re willing to vouch for you, that can speed up the application process for you vs. if you were to do a cold application online.

2: College Classmates

You obviously weren’t the only one in your major when you graduated from college.

Check out where your classmates are & what they’re up to on LinkedIn. Reach out to them, or if one of your friends you keep in touch with knows them better, ask them for an intro.

Since you went to school together, chances are they’re more likely to respond & get back to you.

3: College Alumni

We don’t have to limit ourselves to people we graduated with. There’s a ton of people who are in your field who graduated years ahead of you that already walked the path you’re trying to cross.

You can go to your university’s linkedin page to look up older classes of alumni and filter the ones who are in your area & profession.

You have a great point of commonality to make the reach-out a little warmer by going to the same school. Not only are you hitting a point of commonality by going to the same school, but you’re hitting that nostalgic factor too.

Alumni typically want to help other alumni. Don’t sleep on this method.

4: High School Classmates & Alumni

The same theory from points 2 & 3 can apply to high school as well.

Granted, the hit ratio isn’t as high as college (at least in my experience) but it’s very well worth tapping into.

One of my very first clients back in the day came through searching them via linkedin.

I mentioned we went to the same high school, we actually had the same teacher 15 years apart, hit it off, and then signed him on to a service agreement.

The same thing can be done to introduce yourself to a potential new employer.

5: Friends and Family

If you’re actively on the job market, the people closest to you should be aware.

Some people say they’re embarrassed or just don’t want to ask for help, but at least to me, it’s a silly reason.

You never know who they know, if they can introduce you to first, 2nd, or 3rd degree connections within their network.

I actually found my 1st AND 2nd job this way, and I’ve been at my 2nd job for almost a decade.

6: 2nd and 3rd Degree Connections

By now you’ve spoken to previous co-workers, previous classmates, other alumni, and friends and family.

If they can’t help refer you in somewhere, then simply ask if they know anyone else who they can introduce you to.

You’re essentially asking to tap into their network, which is therefore expanding your network, increasing your chances of success.

Do this over time, and let compounding work its magic. If you can get each person to introduce you to one or two more people, you’ll rapidly increase your chances of finding someone who can land you a referral into a company.

7: Previous Interviews

Have you interviewed anywhere within the past few years?

If so, reach out to that hiring team and recruiter.

While that specific role you interviewed for is filled by now, chances are they have something else available you’d be a fit for.

Shoot them a note and let them know you’re on the market. Check out their job board, apply to what fits, and make sure to include the URL/Job ID in your note to help make their job a bit easier as well as including your update resume.

TL;DR Your network is bigger than you think!

It’s not an absolute that you’ll land your next gig this way, but it sure can increase your chances of success.

You can look to contact:

1. Previous coworkers

2. College Classmates

3. College Alumni

4. High school classmates & alumni

5. Friends & Family

6. 2nd & 3rd Degree Connections

7. Previous interviewers

….

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