The ability to network is an important part of your social and communication skills.
The goal is to create a so-called “contact network” for specific people or companies that can create many opportunities in the working world if these contacts are properly managed.
Why is this networking so important? It may seem tedious and very tedious to no great benefit, but the more time you devote to it, the better you will be, and the more contacts you make, the more likely it is to pay dividends in the future. Networking is also a great way to keep track of what’s going on in the industry, see where the development is going and how competition handles various problems.
It is usually said that what is important is not what you know, but instead who you know. This means that regardless of whether you are the person with the most knowledge and the best skills in your specific area, it will not matter much if you do not have any customers.
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Network at trade shows
But how do you start networking if you don’t know any “important” people you can start with? There are many ways to start networking, one of the most common, especially for young people who are new to the industry, is to attend trade shows.
There are various trade fairs with companies in a certain sector, or fairs that are specifically aimed at newly graduated students who do not know what it is they want to work with, but what they all have in common is that they are there to meet so many new people and create as many new opportunities as possible.
Here, it is very common, if not expected, to exchange business cards with other people at the fair, and it is therefore important to come well prepared with a good business card that gives a good first impression. Because it is quite possible that a person can receive hundreds of business cards at such a fair, it is therefore important to remember.
A well-designed business card, together with a strong first impression in person, will provide good conditions for remembering. Business cards also make it easier for you to remember which new contacts are worth maintaining.
In today’s society, it is now common to make new contacts and manage existing contacts through social media.
Many connections are now linked to media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It can then be advantageous to create a “business account”, where you only have “friends” and acquaintances from working life, and thus can create a distance from private life and avoid embarrassing or awkward situations.
Many contacts arise over time through common acquaintances or previous collaborations.
You should always keep your eyes open and actively continue, because you never know what might happen in the future. What is certain is that networking is becoming more and more important – so do you participate!
