In today’s market, effective networking is more crucial than ever for career advancement. While attending networking events is a great starting point, it’s just the beginning. To truly leverage these opportunities, it’s essential to focus on building genuine relationships, following up promptly, presenting yourself professionally, nurturing your existing network, and being direct with your asks. This article will provide you with six powerful tips to enhance your professional networking skills and help you achieve your career goals.

1. Focus on Genuine Relationship Building 

When connecting with someone, you don’t want to stroll up and immediately launch into a sales pitch. Find a way to break the ice, which may include starting with a genuine compliment or asking question. Examples can include:

• “Your badge says you work for Allied Health Today— that’s incredible. I’ve heard great things about working for them, what do you do there?” 
• “I really enjoyed your presentation. I’ve struggled with knowing how to ask my manager for more support, and that gave me a great script to use.”
• “Hi! I love your company booth. How long did it take you to set all this up?” 

After chatting, formally introduce yourself and potentially explain why you’re in the group or at the event. If you hit it off, end the conversation by saying you’d like the opportunity to stay in touch and asking to connect. 

Make sure you reach out on an ongoing basis, especially using platforms like LinkedIn. You can ask questions, but also share resources and provide value when you can. This can build genuine relationships. 

2. Follow Up Quickly 

If someone gives you their card or contact information, follow up within a day of meeting or after the end of the event. Sending an email a day after a week-long event ends, for example, is perfectly acceptable. 

Thank them for their time and say that it was great to meet them. You can try to set up a time to call or do coffee down the line. This prevents the contact from forgetting you and shows genuine interest. 

3. Put Your Best Foot Forward 

If you’re knowingly entering a space— either physical or digital— where there could be networking opportunities, put your best foot forward. This includes: 

• Dressing professionally for your line of work and appropriately for the situation
• Having business cards ready, and consider having resumes on-hand if you’re attending an event like a job fair that may request them
• Being in a good headspace, confident and ready to meet new people  

4. Strengthen Your Existing Network 

Your network isn’t just a means to an end and should be nurtured long-term. You can do this with the following tips: 

• Stay in touch with those who have extended help, returning the favor when you can
• Thank people who have helped you progress through professional development and career advancement— even if it was many years ago 
• Connect with your network on more platforms, such as finding old colleagues on LinkedIn even if you’d lost touch previously 

5. Consider Benefits Outside of Promotions or New Jobs 

Networking is often centered around gaining promotions or new employment, but it can provide immense benefits outside of direct career advancement into new positions.

You can exchange ideas, be inspired by someone’s career path, and identify new opportunities or growth. 

Someone may mention a fantastic conference that helped them connect with their current employer, or recommend a training program that helped them advance in their own profession. This kind of information can help you stay at the top of your game (and stay competitive), especially when combined with employer-sponsored education programs and career pathways that are centered around employee upskilling. 

6. Be Direct with Asks 

While you want to build a strong foundation by establishing rapport and an authentic relationship, you should also be direct if you’re ever asking something from someone in your network. 

You don’t want to just hope that they think of you if an opportunity comes around, or that they picked up on a subtle hint you dropped at some point. 

Let your contact know, for example, that you’d love to be considered if another position opens up on their team. Either ask for them to let you know so you can submit an application or ask if they’d be comfortable referring you directly. The worst thing they can say is no, and that’s better than putting both parties in an awkward position if you accidentally overstep by listing them as a referral when they weren’t willing to act as one. 

Leverage Networking for Career Advancement

Regardless of which industry you work in or your current seniority in the workforce, there are plenty of networking and career advancement opportunities available if you know where to look. 

Networking can provide an invaluable source of information, support, connections, and referrals, each of which can help with career mobility. 

If you’re interested in progressing professionally, you should also look at other resources that may be available to you through your employer or school system. Schools may have interview practice sessions or free resume review services, for example, in addition to networking opportunities.

Your current employer might also offer employee development programs, which may include training or tuition assistance, dedicated career coaching, or career pathways to help you identify how to best reach your professional goals. You can connect with your manager or your company’s HR department to ask about continued upskilling and employer education assistance programs. 

Looking for more ways to progress in your career? Get more career advancement advice on our blog.