5 Tips for Networking in a Post-Pandemic World
When I moved from my small town in the south of France to Toronto, Canada back in 2014, I had to reinvent myself. I didn’t know anyone. Broken English and big dreams were my only companions. I started meeting people in various ways in order to fill my life, and those continuous steps built a strong network. What I found was that this network enabled me to reach many of my goals.
As we emerge now from our quarantine cocoons, the feeling is akin to moving to a new city. Neighborhoods, routines, and relationships feel a bit foreign! I found that networking was so pivotal to my success in a new place that I started sharing my experiences through workshops, blogs, and social media. Committing yourself to the five tips I used will help you feel more confident and prepared when reentering the public and professional world. — Don’t feel intimidated! Networking is more about preparation than meet-and-greets with a name tag.
“Fun” Fact: 70% of job opportunities are never posted online and get filled only by word of mouth and recommendations — one of the main reasons you should spend time growing your network.
1. Learn to explain what you want
I quickly learned my first year in Toronto that people can’t read minds or understand what we can’t explain to them. If you are looking for new job opportunities, you must be able to explain those opportunities in order for the individuals around you to help and connect you with the right people. Sharing that you want to work in Marketing is extremely vague and won’t lead you toward a meaningful connection. Instead, you need to be precise. Set your goals and make sure you’re comfortable explaining them to others.
2. Audit your network
When growing a network, there’s often only focus on expansion and disregard for keeping up with the network that already exists. As you move jobs, other people do too. LinkedIn is an incredible tool to check in on who is doing what and sending a quick note to reconnect. LinkedIn will also prompt you to congratulate someone on a career move or achievement, which allows for an organic and low-hanging-fruit opportunity. Your network is a spider web with many threads to explore that’s forever evolving.
3. Prepare your meetings with questions
Getting a meeting confirmed with someone calls for celebration! Pat yourself on the back and then shift gears to the meeting itself. Keep in mind that the person you’re meeting with is offering you their free time and free advice. Be mindful of that personal time and come prepared. Prepare questions about their experience, the industry, and tips they could potentially share about their former and current positions. Have several more questions ready than you think you need to assure that you’re not wasting what could be a one-time chance.
4. Use Social Media
Scrolling hours on social media is not considered to be the most productive way to fill free time, unless of course it’s being used as a powerful tool to help grow your network! Meeting people in real life can be intimidating and connecting online feels easier. Social media offers access to a great deal of information about an individual’s experiences that can be used as an icebreaker. Mutual connections can be used to make an introduction. If your own profile is up to date, you’re findable and have the luxury to respond when it’s convenient. Don’t take forever to get back to someone, but use that time to avoid the dreaded afterthought of “I should have said that!” Social media offers you the chance to think twice before pressing enter, and you can always keep notes on the side to help you while you’re responding. Pretty convenient!
5. Think outside the box
Don’t limit yourself to meeting people in places that are meant for networking. I always ask my workshop audience where they think the best place is to meet people and the answer is pretty simple: Everywhere. Every single person you meet can potentially lead you to something new. It won’t always be a new job, but as long as you are learning something from this relationship, you’re winning. I have learned so much about the freelance industry and Canadian culture from people who I met in the most random of places. Join events in industries you like, like a run group or library book club. Meeting people with similar interests makes for a much more relaxed atmosphere than stiff networking events.
We now have more tools to network than ever before. Don’t worry if you feel shy; networking is a learning curve and the more you practice, the more confident you will be. Place your time and energy in the right spots and you will see the results!
Astrid Moulin is a Culture and Trends Consultant at 1021 Creative. She is also a blogger and workshop host. You can connect with Astrid on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
