The HR's Take - Networking to Land a Job!

Hello There! Hope this week was shaped well for you and well, in the blink of an eye, we are yet again at the end of another month of 2017. Sigh! Time isn't running, it's literally flashing away, so, all that can be done now, is to make the most of the last two months of this year in every way possible, starting off with getting back to that 2017 To-Do List and ticking things off if you haven't done that already!

Going ahead with today's topic, apart from having exceptional skills and knowledge, till-date, networking happens to be one of the most efficient tools to get the boost of getting ahead in life, of-course, now-a-days we term it as: "Arey uske paas bohot contacts hai..." as we all must have heard somewhere or the other. Hence, this post is about how you too can build up your contacts, improve your reach and 'be found'. Here's the entire process of building an excellent networking matrix for your own benefit, because its you, yourself who has to work for getting past your competitors and achieve more. 

Step 1: Identify Why You Want to Build a Network? 

You may want to start networking for getting more work or you may want to do it for getting recommended for a job, the first step is about understanding yourself, as to why you want to build a network and that's when you will be able to follow the further steps effectively. 

Step 2: Analyse Your Own Identity - Online and Offline:

First, check all your social media presence, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and the likes, these are all online, for offline, check and improvise your CVs, Resume, Cover Letter and all the introductory documents while you apply for a job. Once you make changes / update your profile, you will get a better chance of being viewed both online and offline. 

Step 3: Draw a line between Personal and Professional Information:

Don't mix Facebook / Instagram posts by sharing it on LinkedIn or any other professional site. It is extremely crucial for you to filter your posts into these two categories and draw a line between the two, it will just show your personality as a more mature one. 

Step 4: Organize How & Who You Want to Network with:

If you have an aim of getting into the media sector, in the media sector into branding or PR, target those professionals who are into this field already, follow up on pages that give you news about latest trends, get into online-discussion forums. Make a list of all these activities and DO NOT forget to connect with the HR Department too, because they will be one of the deciding factors before your offer letter is processed! 

Step 5: Join the Groups - Online and Offline:

There are various discussion forums online and offline, debate groups, content sharing groups, you must take part in them as a tool to meet new people and interact with them and it will also help you get more knowledge about your domain. 

Step 6: 'The Personal Pitch':

Perhaps, once you have done all the steps above and it is time to meet anyone in person, having a personal pitch for yourself will make sure that you have set your mark in their minds with your first impression. Hence, work on it, preferably act it out with some peers / friends as it will only enhance your confidence of speaking about yourself. Also, while you would be approaching a professional on LinkedIn or any site, draft an introductory message for yourself so that they get a clear and crisp idea about who you are. 

Step 7: Cold-Networking:

Cold Networking is about meeting and interacting with people whom you have never known before. Just remember to do the following: acknowledge the person, Be Clear about your Interests, Establish and Maintain a Bond with them. 

Step 8: Following-up is the key:

You will be meeting a lot of people or virtually interacting with them when you're networking, and to follow-up, when you meet or interact again, help them remind about you by telling them why did you first stark talking, then talk about shared interests or share some links or articles which may be useful for them in their work. This is how you will maintain a good bond with them too.

Step 9: Keep Track of all Your Contacts: 

Most Most Crucial Step! Don't get into the embarrassing situation where you are conversing with the person in front of you on a different tangent than the last time you met with him/her. Keep a record of people you meet and their contacts at a place, be it in your cell, contacts or any excel sheet which is easily reachable for reference. 

So, these were the steps, a combination of which will help you get on-to networking and if you are already on it, in getting better with it. As the elders said, Right Place, Right Time and Right People will take you places, we might as well make use of that strategy now!

Like and Share this post to the people who'll find it relevant and comment down below if you have any more insights about the topic related to this. Thank You!!

Much Love, Positivity & Gratitude.

-Binal R. Chitroda 

(#TheHRConnect)