Active networking is vital to both business and career growth. Often confused with selling, networking is actually about building long-term relationships and a good reputation over time. It involves meeting and getting to know people who you can assist, and who can potentially help you in return.
You gain power and influence when you add value for other people. People tend to repay good deeds, and when they feel kindly treated and are grateful that you helped them, they will be happy to share their own knowledge and assistance.
Networking is about sharing, not taking. It is about forming trust and helping one another toward goals. Regularly engaging with your contacts and finding opportunities to assist them helps to strengthen the relationship. By doing this, you sow the seeds for reciprocal assistance when you need help to achieve your goals.
Being visible and getting noticed is a benefit of networking that’s essential in career building. Regularly attending professional and social events will help to get your face known. You can then help to build your reputation as knowledgeable, reliable and supportive by offering useful information or tips to people who need it.
Networking is basically a number of exchanges of services and the most precious insurance in your business and private life. It is based on a principle called ‘social indebtedness’. Social indebtedness is at play when we upgrade each other’s possibilities and potential. You can share lots of things with your contacts including your knowledge and expertise, which means they can obtain benefits and expand their horizons, in business or in their private lives.
Expanding your contacts is essential to opening doors to new opportunities for business, career advancement, personal growth, or simply new knowledge. Active networking helps to keep you at the top of the list when opportunities such as job openings arise and increases your likelihood of receiving introductions to potentially relevant people or even a referral.
Networking is a great opportunity to exchange best practice knowledge, learn about your peers and competitors and stay abreast of the latest industry developments. A wide network of informed, interconnected contacts means broader access to new and valuable information. Gaining the advice of experienced peers is an important benefit of networking. Discussing common challenges and opportunities opens the door to valuable suggestions and guidance. Offering genuine assistance to your contacts also sets a strong foundation for receiving support in return when you need it.
In summary, regular networking within your industry and discipline are essential for you to get ahead in your business and your career. Nurturing relationships with your contacts is mutually beneficial and is effectively an insurance policy of opportunity in both your business and professional life.
GRS Recruitment is a leading international recruitment agency managing the largest range of career opportunities in Cyprus and Malta. The company, co-founded in 2005 by Donna Stephenson and Steve Slocombe, maintains one of the largest databases of job vacancies complete with a candidate pool of more than 30,000 qualified candidates, providing its clients with access to the best human capital and talent in a range of specialist sectors.
To learn more, contact GRS Recruitment on +357 25342720 (Limassol) or 22769369 (Nicosia) or email jobs@grsrecruitment.com
