The holiday season is a good time for networking. You never know how someone you meet at a holiday party can help you with your career. You could learn about a job at your dream company, get valuable career advice or meet a mentor — and you can help the people you meet too.
The thought of networking might make you nervous. People often associate networking with small talk and stalled conversations, but there are ways to walk away with genuine connections and to make the process more valuable in person and online.
Lake recommends engaging with people on social media before meeting with them in person. Look for the guest list for events you are attending — or better yet, ask the host who is coming and who they think would be a good connection for you. “Do your research and connect online with three or four people who will be at your networking event. If you interact with someone on LinkedIn or Instagram in low-key ways it makes it more natural when you finally meet in person,” she says.
Think of ways you can use your social media community to create conversations that are helpful for everyone. “I have a ‘Mentoring Monday’ series on Instagram where I answer all types of questions, not all of them business-related,” says Lake. She also suggests using Quora and Medium to answer questions and comment on people’s content. Once you’ve built a network, nurture your relationships by staying in touch.
When you meet someone you really connect with online or at a networking event, reach out to get coffee or speak on the phone to get advice and learn from each other. “Remember that networking is a long game and it can sometimes take multiple years, but it’ll be well worth it,” she says.
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