Boost Your Career by Building Connections

June 06, 2010, By Steve Graham 0 comments

Everybody has heard networking is crucial to landing a job. Who you know is at least as important as what you know. But you also need to know other people who know the people in your network. Become a connector and help friends, associates and yourself find jobs and meet clients and partners.

Think of connecting as philanthropic networking that pays you back over time. Introduce job seekers and businesspeople to connections in relevant industries. If a job or client relationship pans out, both ends of the connection will remember you as the business-world matchmaker. To be an effective connector, overcome your fears and reluctance, get personal and be organized.

Why Be a Connector?

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 48 percent of jobs are obtained through professional referrals. Nonetheless, most guys recoil at even the word networking, and put networking events slightly above scrubbing the toilet on their list of least-favorite activities.

For many, the hardest part is meeting new people. After that first introduction, most guys find some common ground making follow-up meetings and conversations much easier. A connector can simplify the first introduction and put everyone at ease.

Overcome Your Fears

Connecting a friend to another like-minded person is easier than just walking up and introducing yourself, but it still makes us nervous. It's important to overcome your fears and make connections.

Most people are afraid of failure, and failure as a connector is no exception. There is a good chance that you'll make a connection that doesn't pan out with a job or business deal. Even if your two friends don't really connect, they won't disconnect from you. They will still appreciate the effort.

Another fear may be jeopardizing your own career success. Some people want to hold their professional cards close to their chests, assuming that employment is a zero-sum game. To be sure, you are not qualified for every job, and even a close associate may not hire you or become a client. A third person could be a better fit, so get connecting.

Get Personal

So what is the best way to be a connector? Get personal. The more personal the connection, the more valuable it will be. It's really easy to ignore a LinkedIn request or recommended connection. It's only slightly harder to delete an email. A phone call is a little harder to ignore and a face-to-face meeting is the best chance for the two other people to connect.

You're probably thinking "I'm not a professional connector." I don't have the time (or the appetite) to set up all these business lunches all day. A face-to-face connection can be really simple and informal, and it will pay off both for your acquaintances and for you through their reciprocal connections.

Get Organized

Of course, all this connecting and networking requires an initial set of connections. Unlike an old Rolodex or paper address book, digital address books let you make notes next to names and contact numbers. Make notes that will help you remember professional information, personal details and even physical descriptions so you will connect the name with the face at your next meeting.

Also, join LinkedIn. It's the premier online professional network. Connecting with an acquaintance on LinkedIn gives you instant access to a regularly updated professional profile, photo and many useful details.

Become a connector to help your friends find jobs and clients. In turn, your connections will connect you to jobs and clients. It's a win-win.