The Art of Networking
In this era of a wide range of careers, where individuals making great career moves, networking is appreciated as a significant competency. Developing and maintaining good relationships with other people for the mutual purpose and benefits can be of great help to job seekers as it enables them to secure job opportunities, gain resources or information regarding a particular job. Typically, with good networking, you can get short notice- hence obtain guidance and social support. Therefore, these networking skills are essential for increasing social capital as well as career success. However, many people are uncomfortable with networking. This paper discusses the benefits and challenges of networking with others. Also, the article explains how we can train individuals to understand the importance of networking in building career success.
In today’s highly technological environment, an individual’s comfort and willingness with networking can positively impact one’s ability to identify and nurture mentors, establish contacts, and get job interview opportunities, and so on. This networking is essential for personal and career success. The research suggests that approximately 80% of all formal and professional jobs are not attained via classified advertisements; instead, they achieved through consistent and effective networking. On the same notion, other people choose not to be involved in networking actions for several unconscious and conscious reasons.
Networking signifies proactive endeavors by the individual to build and maintain a personal and professional relationship( Bienzle et al., p.79) . Networking improves one’s social capital by influencing the strength, size, and pattern of involvement of their social network. First, social network size is the number of members in-network. Through networking relationship is expanded collectively through the formation of relationships with others who are internal to the organization, such as peers and those external, including members of professional corporations. Further study also shows that large networks are associated with a variety of benefits.
Secondly, network strength is a degree of closeness that typifies a relationship- networking relationship grows stronger ties, and sometimes becoming a mentoring type of contact and communication is frequent. Finally, the pattern of networking is how the members are interconnected to one another. “Where there is no good connection then structural hole exists hence no effective gain and access to diverse information” ( de Janasz & Monica, p. 630)
Although networking has numerous advantages for one’s personal and career success, many people have a notion of networking intimidating and uncomfortable. In particular, the view of networking might be scary for some people who may, therefore, refrain from developing networks with others. Low self-esteem and introverted individuals are much less motivated to join in networking.
It is believed that by providing training and education, chances to practice individuals can become comfortable in their networking. This involves building skills in how to approach people and introduce themselves and giving opportunities to learn how to participate in a “small talks” to aid them in finding an area of common interest that can enhance one’s ability to engage in networking.
In conclusion, networking is a career competency in this modern era full of career opportunities. People ought to develop and maintain good networking with others to secure job opportunities, obtain correct information regarding a particular job. Also, there is a need for educating and training people with low self- esteem to get to know the benefits of being in networking.