Networking is essential in both professional and personal development. The most common misconception of networking is that it simply serves to get one a referral.
Whether it is in learning more about a career, or finding a mentor, networking should serve as a self-enrichment tool. Sometimes, it is as straightforward as enhancing soft skills. The act becomes easier over time, as you begin to collect a web of referrals to speak to others, with increasing credibility.
It is an exchange of ideas where each person is gaining from the other. Focus on the value you can provide to the person you’re speaking with, consistently catch up with them, and build a connection based on mutualism.
That is not to say that networking does not yield tangible results as well:
According to LinkedIn, over 70% of professionals get hired at companies where they already have a connection and applicants referred to a position by an employee are 9x more likely to get hired. Additionally, for larger organizations, many resumes submitted without an internal referral never pass HR due to the volume of applicants.
Phone/Zoom calls are one of the most accessible ways to network, especially for beginners who need to rely on notes. It allows for simpler scheduling than the rest of the options, as professionals can hop on from anywhere they have service.
However, phone calls are less intimate and it’s harder to time replies and gauge reactions.
Coffee chats are more intimate and professionals are more likely to remember you through one.
On the other hand, they require more flexibility in scheduling, as well as the student to remember the facts and topics they’re looking to cover.
Networking events have a larger outreach volume, but that comes at the cost of being more forgettable.
Priceless.