What is networking?
Did you know that even today 70-80% of jobs openings are filled by a pre-selected candidate, making a formal job posting unnecessary? To be successful in a job market where so many jobs are filled without a formal application process, networking is crucial.
Networking can help you:
Get a job
Find a sponsor
Make new friends
Get new ideas
In short, networking is the art of building alliances. It’s not just contacting everyone you know when you are looking for a new job and asking if they know of any job openings. Networking starts long before a job search and is an activity you may already do more than you realise.
Whether you know it or not, you are networking when you:
Attend professional meetings or conferences
Talk to players, coaches, trainers from other teams and leagues
Volunteer for charitable events
Visit members of social, civic, or religious organisations
Talk to your teammates and coaches
Develop a social media presence by setting up a profile on social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.), following people you would like to know more about, and posting messages and updates on what you are doing on your profile(s)
Talk to spectators/fans after the game
However, networking is not:
Making cold calls to people you don’t know. It’s talking to people you do know and asking them to introduce you to others.
Carefully choreographing meetings and greeting people insincerely. Networking is much more effective when done more casually.
Just for your benefit. Networking is a two-way street and must benefit both persons to be truly effective. So, when you ask your network for help, be prepared to return the favour.
How can I explore different networks?
On a daily basis, you probably interact with colleagues, friends and even strangers. These interactions are all opportunities for networking. Here are four types of networks:
Personal networks.
These include family, friends, and close associates. You usually choose these types of networks through mutual interests or connections. Personal networks are more social than other types of networks and are based on an exchange of help and support.
Organisational networks.
These include project groups, committees, and councils. These networks are focused on whom you need to know to achieve objectives within a specific time frame. They are typically based on power, knowledge, and influence.
Professional networks.
These networks are comprised of colleagues and peers. Professional networks are based on common professional interests. They can be internal or external, meaning they can exist within a place of business or outside the office as part of an industry in general.
Strategic networks.
These include external contacts and connections. Strategic networks can be established by making alliances with individuals from social, political, civic, or religious organisations or other groups with whom you may have regular contact.
You may have already started thinking about how you can expand each of the four networks described above – new groups you could join, meetings and conferences you’d like to attend, new people you’d like to talk to, etc. Social media are also a great way to expand your network. However, it is important to remember that the people you already know could be the most influential people in your network – your third grade teacher, your mom’s best friend, your dentist, etc. may just know the person who could help you achieving your professional and personal goals.
As a basketball player, it is also very important to network with key people, both for your basketball career and for your post-basketball career. These include your National Federation, your league, your different clubs, coaches, agents, teammates, etc. During your career, having a good relationship and being polite with coaches might give you the opportunity to change your team in the future. Similarly, having a good relationship with your National Federation might give you your first post-basketball job opportunity. Keep this in mind each time that you interact with the different stakeholders.
Preparing for networking
Regardless of whether you are planning to meet new people to expand your networks or talk to the people you know to see how they can help you achieve your goals, preparation is key to maximise your networking efforts.
Some tips for preparation include:
Introduce yourself confidently and explain clearly what you are doing or seeking (generally or at this specific event). A good way to prepare is by creating and practicing a 30 second elevator pitch (see below).
Carry business cards. You don’t need to be employed or have a private company. A simple card with your details (i.e. phone number, email address, website) is all you need.
Ask the people you meet for their business card or contact details, or give them yours.
Be professional always (see further: Professionalism).
The 30-second elevator pitch
Being able to explain who you are, what you offer and what you want to achieve is an important skill for effective networking. A 30-second elevator pitch gives you a good start when meeting someone and can get conversations moving in your favour.
What it is
A 30-second elevator pitch is a short “speech” designed to pique the interest of a group, company or individual. It is a brief description of yourself, the skills and experience you offer, and any special or unique information related to your interests – which can be expressed easily in 30 seconds, the amount of time you would have if you were on an elevator with someone. It is not a life story. Your goal is to get your audience to ask additional questions, look at (and not just file) your resume, or take a general interest in learning more about you.
Why it is important in networking
The 30-second elevator pitch is an opportunity for you to quickly and succinctly highlight particular skills or characteristics that are interesting and help you stand out in a competitive job market.
What it should include
The pitch should demonstrate how you are unique. It should include a brief introduction and what you can offer the group, company or team. The best pitches contain two or three important skills or abilities related to the group you are speaking to backed up by illustrative examples.
Online Networking
Connecting online can be a great way to begin informal relationships that turn into great networking opportunities.
One benefit to online networking is that it eliminates the need for face-to-face interaction, which can alleviate some of the anxiety of making new connections. However, it is very important that you begin these types of relationships in the right way. Since you can’t use your voice or body language to express yourself, you must make sure the words that you use and the way they are presented properly represent your intentions.
Advantages
There are thousands of discussion groups and community forums covering a wide variety of subjects
You can ‘break the ice’ before meeting someone in person
You can listen, engage, or be as engaged as you wish because no one is watching you in person
Many recruiters are using online networks to find potential candidates (LinkedIn and other industry-specific forums)
Disadvantages
Networking online is just as difficult as networking in person! In fact, it may be even harder because you can’t really establish a true personal relationship online
First impressions count even more – be very careful with your first public posting
Your online behaviour matters more than you think – don’t try to use sarcasm when networking online because it is likely to be misinterpreted