Networking for 2023
Apr 13th, 2023 | Hire Wire
With candidates remaining in short supply to begin 2023, we all feel the pressure to secure talent. With traditional measures, such as LinkedIn and Indeed, providing fewer results it is imperative we continue to get creative and stay active in our efforts. While recruiting and talent acquisition are not exactly sales, there are certainly a number of techniques and soft skills recruiters could learn and use from the savviest sales professionals. Leading sales professionals regularly evaluate regular experiences for opportunities and take every connection as a potential lead. While we do not need to be as aggressive, we can certainly apply this approach to our networking efforts, though with a more personal touch; treating encounters as potential referrals for candidates. In this, it is important to remember to make the connections meaningful, in such a way that you are the first person that comes to mind when someone thinks of needing assistance with a job search or when a hiring manager is struggling to find the right candidate.
Most everyone has heard the expression “It is not what you know, but who you know”. This is why networking is one of the single most important factors in professional development, growth, and career success. Generally speaking, networking takes place in a variety of forms and settings, such as work functions, training, formal association-based events, social events, and over these past few years virtually. With that being said it is always important to remember the setting and know your audience; the way you interact at an after-work social networking event will differ from how you would interact at a professional training.
Regardless of the setting, there are a few keys to successful networking that I have found to be very helpful. In most cases, you will not have a great deal of time to make an impression and fully explain what you do. For this reason, you should focus on why you do what you do, what excites you about it, and who you are. Being personable, genuine, and showing some passion for what you do is more likely to make a strong and lasting impression. You likely will not be the only person in the room looking for the same connections, but you are the only person in the room representing your brand. When you are networking and introducing yourself, try not to sound like you are selling what you do and immediately asking for buy-in, rather ensure you are representing who you are, why you care about what you do and are actively listening to your audience’s verbal and nonverbal responses. If you can develop a quick rapport and connect, someone is more likely to remember who you are and what you do, therefore reaching out to you for your service.
Five Easy Tips to Remember When Networking
- Be Personable
- Be Positive
- Be Passionate
- Be Yourself
- Be Memorable