Networking is essential to career progression and staying on top of trends within your industry. It allows you to meet like-minded professionals and expand the reach of your personal brand.
With so many opportunities available to network, especially now that events and meetups have become virtual due to the current pandemic, networking has never been so accessible. However, one in four people do not network at all. That is why we’ve listed below our top three explanations of how networking can help you advance in your career.
Job Opportunities
Networking can benefit both employers and professionals looking for a new role, as it enables you to widen your pool of potential candidates and job prospects, that you may not have previously considered.
A survey by LinkedIn found that 85% of all jobs are filled through networking.
Growing Your Connections
Not all networking needs to be formal, for example grabbing a quick coffee.
Networking is a great way to meet other professionals in your industry and to connect with them informally. Meeting people in similar roles, using similar technologies gives you a group of individuals you can go to for advice, either around your career options, or if you are unsure about a particular tech solution. If you need help from tech professionals in the future, you will already have built a network of people that will be happy to help.
Finding a Mentor
Networking is also a great way to find a mentor. Having a mentor in your industry can help you to navigate your long-term career path and goals as they will have had similar experiences and can provide guidance.
One study has found that people who have a mentor are promoted five times more often than people without a mentor.
Expanding Your Knowledge
Attending events and meetups not only gives you the opportunity to network, it also allows you to expand your knowledge.
Staying on top of industry trends and gaining knowledge means that you can then take what you have learned from these events and apply it into your current role. When speaking at events and meetups a lot of the speakers usually provide theoretical and/or practical knowledge along with their experiences of the topic. This can provide you with insights you might not find through online resources.
If you are looking to network with professionals in your industry, register to our meetup page to stay updated on upcoming events. The purpose of our meetups is to provide tech professionals a platform to tell their stories, offer others advice as well as giving opportunities to network in the industry.
Check out a previous blog for our top tips on how to network remotely.
Are you a team leader looking for talented tech professionals to join your team? Speak with our specialist consultants today.
