The word “networking” elicits a variety of responses – excitement, dread, confusion, and more. Befriending strangers for career betterment can feel selfish, insincere, and difficult if you are doing it incorrectly. Networking is all about relationships. It is about mutually respecting others that share your interest. Don’t think of networking simply as the means to a job; it’s about investing into an industry community in such a way that makes it an industry you want to stay in. This article will explore how to develop appropriate and sustainable networking skills. Although everyone will develop their professional circles differently, there are some tried and true mentalities and habits that will benefit regardless of your needs.
Networking should always begin with a committed, clear pursuit of your passion. If you don’t know what you love, or why you love it, you won’t know where to invest or which questions to ask. Especially in the beginning, you may not have a narrowed scope – and that’s ok – just continue to dig into what you enjoy. Focus on learning. Keep coding. Explore meetups. Over time, this digging will bring you understanding of how you’ll want to spend your time. A sense of direction will focus your energy, time, and resources. It will also inform how you request support from peers, school, and mentors.
Start out exploring a topic through research, tutorials, trial/error, peers, TAs, and staff (aka The Framework); consider this great practice because when you attend a meetup, conference, or mentor lunch you will be putting your best foot forward. Once you have grappled with your interest and are presented with niche questions, get your feet wet and reach out to others in the industry.
NDeveloping professional relationships isn’t any different from what you’ve been doing at ALX – it’s just a new context for practicing the peer learning framework that begins right at school. There are a variety of life and professional backgrounds represented in each cohort. Some have already had experience working in tech, while others may soon find themselves in the job of their dreams.
Building professional relationships is not just about what we get out of it today. It’s about a relationship of give and take over time. In the same way that friendships take time to develop mutual trust and respect, professional relationships require investment of energy and time. People want to know that your integrity, skill, and work ethic can be trusted. The more respect and empathy you bring into your new interactions, the more quickly trust develops.
It isn’t enough to go through motions; it’s important to do the aforementioned appropriately. Oftentimes, you will only have moments to make a memorable impression, and you want to do all you can to ensure it’s a positive one. There are countless books entailing the nuances of social interactions - all of which you are welcome to read ;) - but here are some condensed tips.
If you want respect from others, it starts with you. The integrity you put into your work and presentation will influence how much someone is willing to invest in you. You deserve to be represented by the side that a stranger will more quickly come to trust.