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Expanding your Network to Unlock Limitless Career Possibilities
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In today's workplaces, employers expect you to have hard skills that are relevant to your tasks. Consequently, as technology keeps advancing, more and more companies are investing in workplace training. But they are also paying increasing attention to employees' soft skills, and they expect their staff to invest in self-improvement outside of work hours.
In recent years, many organisations have also been organising industry networking events for knowledge sharing. So, if you want to enhance your knowledge and job capabilities and lay a solid foundation for developing your career, building a strong network is a good approach.
1. The key to building a network lies in genuine connections
Stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy. Building a network goes beyond attending large-scale events like networking conferences; it can also start from everyday work and life. For example, you can seek advice and learn from your superiors and colleagues during team projects and tap into their ideas and experiences. You can also create a personal profile on social platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions with other industry professionals. If you are comfortable and open to sharing ideas and perspectives with others, you can soon overcome the fear of building a network.
The saying "surround yourself with good company" also applies to who you should network with. In both professional relationships and personal friendships, it is crucial to choose individuals you connect with carefully. When building a network, prioritise engaging with people with expertise and experience in your field so you can gain insights into industry trends and avoid falling behind. You can also consider broadening your circle of connections by interacting and exchanging ideas with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. In this way, you will not only gain knowledge, but also enhance your skills and open up more possibilities for developing your career.
2. Creating a positive first impression
First impressions play a vital role in interpersonal relationships. When meeting someone for the first time, your words, actions, and behaviour will all influence their initial impression of you. This impression often has a profound impact on the relationship that follows. Therefore, when participating in social or business gatherings, making a positive, friendly, and professional first impression is essential to ensuring that you can win the favour and trust of others.
To avoid awkwardness, when talking to someone you have just met, it is helpful to initiate casual conversation to break the ice. The key to creating a closer connection with others lies in interacting with them in a respectful and friendly manner. Listen actively to their stories and thoughts, ask appropriate questions, and provide feedback while maintaining a sincere, polite and interested attitude.
3. A social network of mutual benefit
Good interpersonal relationships in the workplace not only help to build and maintain connections, but also provide an opportunity for experts from different industries to exchange ideas and progress together.
If you remain within the comfort zone of your own industry for too long, your perspective will gradually narrow. In recent years, many small and medium-sized enterprises and startups have been organising cross-industry networking events to encourage different companies to establish personal learning networks. Learning about other company’s operational models and industry techniques, can broaden your own horizons and help you apply this knowledge to company management and production.
To build and develop successful long-term relationships, it is essential to contribute equally. It is important not to constantly seek knowledge and experience from others without being willing to contribute in return. Following the law of reciprocity, it is crucial to consider what benefits one can provide to the other party to become a valuable collaborator.
4. 9 tips to avoid offending colleagues while networking
Every company has its own unique culture. So, if you are a new employee, seeking advice from your knowledgeable colleagues within the company is quicker and usually more accurate than seeking guidance from outside.
Networking inside your organisation and quickly integrating into the company is an important skill to master. Besides getting to know your immediate departmental colleagues, you should also familiarise yourself with other colleagues and understand their daily operations.
Everyone has their own distinct way of handling things and thinking. While you have the choice not to accept others' opinions, it is important to refrain from questioning or challenging their ideas or actions. Instead, adopt the principle of agreeing to disagree and engage in respectful communication with others. To avoid stepping on any landmines, it is crucial to be mindful of the DOs and DON'Ts of networking to prevent any unnecessary damage.
If you have friends who aren’t students or alumni of HKU SPACE, but would like to explore the useful content in Career SPACE, click here to get a 6-month access Career SPACE account* for them, they’ll be thrilled!
*For students and alumni, your username is your student number. For any enquiry, please email to careerspace@hkuspace.hku.hk. |
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