{"id":59616,"date":"2023-12-06T06:04:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T11:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=59616"},"modified":"2024-01-24T11:34:54","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T16:34:54","slug":"how-networking-benefits-ex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-networking-benefits-ex\/","title":{"rendered":"How Professional Networking Benefits EX"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Julie is dissatisfied at her job. She is good at what she does. She likes most of her colleagues. But she isn\u2019t being challenged. She\u2019s half-heartedly looking for alternative jobs, but whole-heartedly complaining to friends about her frustrations. They recommend networking. She rolls her eyes and thinks, \u201cI reached out to some former co-workers&#8230; What else can I do?\u201d She\u2019s woefully unaware of all the types of professional networking, let alone how they could improve her experience where she\u2019s at right now.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-59619 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668859-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"professional networking\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668859-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668859-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668859-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668859-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668859-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668859-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668859-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>What is professional networking?<\/h2>\n<p>Professional networking sees you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketing91.com\/professional-networking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">build and nurture relationships<\/a> with other people that can support your personal growth and career advancement. They might provide advice, mentor you, or connect you with fresh opportunities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Successful networking establishes mutually beneficial connections between professionals. This can help you develop your skills and experience and ultimately enhance your engagement with work or advance your career.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Types of professional networking<\/h2>\n<p>One way to differentiate career networking types is to think of them in terms of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zippia.com\/advice\/professional-networking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">three broad categories<\/a>:<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Operational\u2014These individuals relate to your current role and responsibilities, including co-workers, clients, and vendors.<\/li>\n<li>Personal\u2014People in your personal network are connected to you through other aspects of your life. This might include fellow alumnae, professors, neighbors, friends, family, and people you meet at conferences or industry events.<\/li>\n<li>Strategic\u2014Someone who is both an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-to-develop-microcultures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">operational and personal connection<\/a> could be part of your strategic network. For example, a colleague that leaves your company but that you remain in touch with after their departure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That said, there are many common networking approaches that can help your career journey and professional advancement. We\u2019ll explore those in more detail next.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Common networking opportunities\u2014online<\/h2>\n<p>The social media platform LinkedIn is designed to support online networking. The site makes it easy to connect with people across your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career-advice\/career-development\/networking-connections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">professional, personal, and strategic networks<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>You might also join, follow, or like professional associations or trade groups on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter) to connect with others in your industry. You can keep up with industry peers sharing news and insights and join discussions relevant to your profession.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Look also for online forums and communities related to your field. This can help you connect with professionals globally. You can see what people are talking about in your industry, find out about new technologies, and discuss best practices in your area of expertise.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Networking in real life<\/h2>\n<p>Another great way to network? Get off your computer and go out into the real world. Attending conferences and seminars, participating in training workshops, and going to trade shows can help you meet others in your field. You can establish connections with potential clients and employers while also learning about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/cx-trends-in-hospitality\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">industry trends<\/a> and expanding your skill set.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>In your community, you could look to attend networking mixers. These more relaxed, social events let you meet other professionals with whom you already share a commonality (e.g., industry, age, gender, location). Volunteering is another great way to meet new people you might not otherwise encounter. Volunteer with activities related to your skills and interests to meet likeminded individuals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Joining your educational institution\u2019s alumni association can also link you to other professionals who might influence your career trajectory. By attending alumni events or reunions, you can build and maintain relationships with former classmates and faculty.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>You might also participate in a mentorship program. Many educational institutions, companies, and professional organizations can help connect you with a mentor to provide guidance and advice.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>When you seek a new job opportunity or want to change careers, job fairs can help you meet recruiters and the hiring professionals at various companies. You\u2019ll be able to establish an initial connection that can make easier the next contact with that individual about a particular opening or opportunity.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Benefits of networking professionally<\/h2>\n<p>Taking advantage of these many approaches to networking can <a href=\"https:\/\/novoresume.com\/career-blog\/professional-networking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">help your career growth<\/a> and personal development. Consider the following advantages the next time you feel reluctant to make the effort to network:<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Increase your visibility in your industry<\/li>\n<li>Grow your chances of hearing about opportunities<\/li>\n<li>Build your pool of people who might offer referrals and recommendations<\/li>\n<li>Expand your awareness of what\u2019s involved in career advancement by interacting with mentors, industry leaders, and experienced professionals<\/li>\n<li>Exchange of ideas helps you learn best practices in your field<\/li>\n<li>Access to diversity of perspectives can provide a wealth of knowledge<\/li>\n<li>Develop skills at workshops or trainings while enhancing your <a href=\"https:\/\/novoresume.com\/career-blog\/professional-networking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">soft skills<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gain access to resources such as job leads, industry reports, and educational opportunities<\/li>\n<li>Find solutions to career challenges by having other experts to tap for guidance and advice<\/li>\n<li>Build a sense of self-assurance and professionalism by engaging with others and sharing experiences<\/li>\n<li>Foster your overall well-being building relationships that provide encouragement and emotional support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>See networking as an opportunity<\/h2>\n<p>Networking can open doors to opportunities and collaborations and enhance your professional journey. Increasing your confidence and building your skill set can boost your overall experience at work. Your connections could lead to collaboration and business growth that leave you feeling more engaged. Expanding your industry awareness can also improve your satisfaction with where you are today and save you the trouble of a new job search.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Next in this series, we\u2019ll discuss how businesses can support interoffice networking and how it helps the organization.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>In the meantime, if you want a better idea of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/employee-engagement-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how your employees feel<\/a> about networking, mentoring, and other elements of your work environment and culture, contact us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Julie is dissatisfied at her job. She is good at what she does. She likes most of her colleagues. But she isn\u2019t being challenged. She\u2019s half-heartedly looking for alternative jobs, but whole-heartedly complaining to friends about her frustrations. They recommend networking. She rolls her eyes and thinks, \u201cI reached out to some former co-workers&#8230; What else can I do?\u201d She\u2019s woefully unaware of all the types of professional networking, let alone how they could improve her experience where she\u2019s at right now. What is professional networking? Professional networking sees you build and nurture relationships with other people that can support your personal growth and career advancement. They might provide advice, mentor you, or connect you with fresh opportunities. Successful networking establishes mutually beneficial connections between professionals. This can help you develop your skills and experience and ultimately enhance your engagement with work or advance your career. Types of professional networking One way to differentiate career networking types is to think of them in terms of three broad categories: Operational\u2014These individuals relate to your current role and responsibilities, including co-workers, clients, and vendors. Personal\u2014People in your personal network are connected to you through other aspects of your life. This might include fellow alumnae, professors, neighbors, friends, family, and people you meet at conferences or industry events. Strategic\u2014Someone who is both an operational and personal connection could be part of your strategic network. For example, a colleague that leaves your company but that you remain in touch with after their departure. That [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":5041,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[164,564,241,1035,984,793,1075,508,208],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.7.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Professional Networking Benefits EX - Sogolytics Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Networking builds professional relationships. Learn how the many different types of professional networking can benefit employee experience.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-networking-benefits-ex\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Professional Networking Benefits EX - Sogolytics Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Networking builds professional relationships. Learn how the many different types of professional networking can benefit employee experience.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-networking-benefits-ex\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sogolytics Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-12-06T11:04:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-24T16:34:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/emp-4.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"487\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"714\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jenn Goddu\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-networking-benefits-ex\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/how-networking-benefits-ex\/\",\"name\":\"How Professional Networking Benefits EX - Sogolytics Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-12-06T11:04:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-01-24T16:34:54+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e279d58fbb23148c5be4fdcb53b4a454\"},\"description\":\"Networking builds professional relationships. 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