How to network
Karmjit shares her thoughts and reflections on how to approach networking, the benefits of it and how to nail it!
What image comes to mind when you think of “networking”? Barely drinkable wine, an wimpy air-conditioned conference room, looking around a crowd for someone approachable to talk to? Giving up after five minutes, when your goal to speak to five new people has shifted to securing enough canapés to constitute your evening meal?
But networking isn’t about schmoozing or collecting as many business cards and LinkedIn connections as possible. At its best, it’s about building a network of people you respect and trust, who can support your confidence, broaden your perspective and help you navigate your career.
And there’s no single right way to do it.
You can build a professional network online, in person, through one-to-one conversations, at industry events, through shared interests or simply by staying in touch with people you already know. The key is finding an approach that feels genuine and sustainable for you.
Here are some tips for a more modern, personalised approach to networking that can help you build meaningful relationships, open yourself up to new opportunities and support other people along the way.
Make it meaningful
Don’t spend your time sending generic connection requests or working your way around a room speaking to as many people as possible. A useful network isn’t necessarily a big one. It’s one made up of people you know, like, respect and trust.
And don’t just think about colleagues in your sector. Your family, friends, former colleagues, people you know in different industries, members of clubs or groups you belong to, neighbours or people you’ve met through shared interests can all form part of your wider network.
These people have different experiences, perspectives and connections, and may be able to introduce you to someone, recommend an opportunity, look over your CV, share useful advice or simply offer encouragement when you need it.
Think about building connections around common ground rather than only around career goals. A shared interest, experience or value can be just as useful in creating a meaningful relationship as working in the same industry.
Who do you want to connect with and why?
Having some clarity about what you want from networking can make it feel much less overwhelming, particularly if you don’t feel naturally confident doing it.
Perhaps you want to meet more people working in an industry you’re considering moving into. Maybe you want to get to know people at a more senior level, build your profile in your current sector or simply expand your circle beyond your immediate colleagues.
You could start by making a list of 10 people you’d like to get to know better and think about why you’re interested in connecting with them. But don’t only think about what you want from the relationship. Consider what you might have in common, what you could contribute and what might make the connection mutually useful.
And remember, networking doesn’t have to start with a need.
Some of the strongest professional relationships are built long before either person needs anything from the other. You might message someone because you enjoyed something they shared, check in with a former colleague, congratulate someone on a new role or suggest a coffee simply because you’d like to stay in touch.
That makes networking much less transactional. You’re building relationships because you value the person and the connection, rather than only getting in touch when you want an introduction, a job lead or a favour.
Be open to different formats
There’s no need to decide that “real networking” only happens at in-person events.
Sometimes an event is exactly the right setting. You might have a great conversation with someone in the queue for coffee or meet several people over the course of an evening. But sometimes a 30-minute Zoom conversation is far more useful than trying to catch someone for three minutes at a busy industry event.
A one-to-one coffee, a video call, a phone conversation, an email exchange, a LinkedIn message or an in-person event can all play different roles in building relationships.
Think about what suits the person you’re connecting with too. Someone might be much more receptive to a quick video call than travelling across London for an hour-long coffee. Equally, meeting someone in person may help a relationship develop in a way that online conversations haven’t.
The point is not to choose between online and in-person networking. It’s to be open to different formats and use the one that makes sense for the relationship.
Make it personal
It’s worth taking some time to think about what defines you. When you make a connection, it’s usually with the person, not the job title.
Don’t limit yourself to work traits. Think about your interests, values, experiences and the things you care about outside work too. Common ground might come from running, cooking, books, parenting, film, politics, gardening or any number of things.
When you’re getting in touch with someone you don’t know, keep your message concise but personal. You don’t need to send an abridged version of your memoir, but avoid a generic message that could have been sent to anyone.
A good opener might include:
a short sentence outlining who you are
why you’re getting in touch
why you’ve chosen to contact them specifically
a clear question or reason for getting in touch
a kind and respectful sign-off
And don’t underestimate the value of genuine appreciation. If you’ve found someone’s work interesting or useful, tell them. People generally respond well to a thoughtful message that shows you’ve actually engaged with what they do.
Remember it’s a two-way street
You’re unlikely to build lasting relationships if every interaction starts with what someone else can do for you.
Think about what you can bring to the relationship too. Could you share your expertise? Introduce them to someone useful? Pass on a job opportunity? Recommend a book, podcast or event? Share something you think they’d find interesting?
You don’t need to keep score. Networking isn’t about making sure every interaction is exactly equal. It’s about building relationships where people are generous with their knowledge, encouragement, ideas and connections.
That generosity can also make networking feel much more comfortable. Instead of constantly asking yourself, “What can this person do for me?”, you can think, “How can we be useful to each other?”
Break it down
Networking can feel like a huge task when you think you need to attend lots of events, meet loads of new people and constantly put yourself out there.
It doesn’t have to be like that.
Think smaller. If you don’t like networking events, make a deal with yourself that you’ll stay for 15 minutes and speak to one person you already know. You can always stay longer once you’re there. Next time, stay a bit longer and speak to someone you don’t know.
Maybe you commit to emailing three people each week just to check in. Or sending one thoughtful LinkedIn message. Or reconnecting with one former colleague each month.
Small, consistent actions are often much easier to sustain than setting yourself a huge networking target and then avoiding it altogether.
You also don’t need to become someone who loves networking. You just need to find ways of maintaining relationships that work for you.
Keep the relationship going
One conversation rarely creates a meaningful professional relationship on its own. The value often comes from what happens afterwards.
If you have a good conversation with someone, follow up. Thank them for their time, mention something you discussed or send over something relevant. If you said you’d keep in touch, do it.
And don’t only reconnect when you need something.
Share an interesting article. Congratulate them on a new role. Check in after a project they were working on. Invite them for a coffee when you’re both free.
These small moments are what help turn a contact into a relationship.
Finally, remember that networking doesn’t have to mean constantly meeting new people. Sometimes it’s about investing in the relationships you already have, while staying open to new ones too.
There are also some fantastic professional networks out there, so joining a community that genuinely interests you can be a good place to start. You don’t need to have the biggest network. Just one that feels useful, supportive and authentic to you!
