What do you immediately think about when I say “networking”? Does it make you remember the awkward experience of standing around a social mixer until a friend shows up, at which point you run to the side?
Let’s be honest — if you’re like most people, you probably don’t enjoy networking. At the same time, you probably realize that networking is critical for advancing your career. After all, few people get jobs through online job platforms, but many people call them through their existing contacts.
The good news is that networking no longer needs to be painful. Thanks to new technology, it can be done without even trying.
The Challenge: Traditional networking is hard
Many people feel uncomfortable networking. According to Dr. Tiziana Casciaro of the University of Toronto, our brains associate traditional networking with getting dirty. Her experiment showed that even the prospect of attending a networking event can make someone long for a shower.
Why? Most people are good and ethical, so approaching people first and foremost as a means to achieve their own ends naturally turns them off, which seems self-absorbed and superficial. Participants in Dr. Casciaro’s study reported feeling false, uncomfortable, and dirty.
On the other hand, genuine connections bring joy to the people involved. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to meet professional contacts serendipitously, then you know how agreeable it can be to connect with like-minded people in this way. Dr. Casciaro has found that this organic form of professional networking doesn’t raise the same connotations of impurity or superficiality.
While much professional networking continues to follow the traditional approach, technology has opened up new opportunities that enable people to foster those second, more organic professional connections.
The Solution: New social networking innovations
Many networking experts advise people to reframe their thinking about professional networking. They point out that, in the end, these events are about meeting people who enjoy similar things as you, presenting opportunities to converse with others on subjects of mutual interest, and helping you learn and grow as a professional.
While these things are true, they are not the end of the story. A new generation of social networking apps is rising to the occasion. Powered by advanced technology, these solutions give people a whole new way to expand their professional network. Apps like these don’t require users to cold-call people, email them, message them on LinkedIn, or approach them at an event.
One innovative new app, in particular, deploys trailblazing geolocation technology to introduce people to those who tend to visit the same places as them. It has three distinct modes — Business, Friendship, and Dating — which enable users to specify their interest in networking upfront. When you are active in the Business mode, the system will let you know if you’ve crossed paths with other members of the community who are also active in the Business mode.
Just imagine the possibilities! Lawyers now have a simple, no-fuss way to meet the other attorneys who frequent the same courthouses. The system also allows college professors to meet other faculty members around campus. If you are a remote professional, the system can introduce you to the other laptop warriors who frequent the same coffee shop or library.
This kind of networking requires nothing of you except to go about your normal day. It works silently behind the scenes, laying the groundwork for you to expand your social circles naturally and without feeling dirty. People reach out to each other and start trading messages on the app because they have things in common and are genuinely interested in each other, not because they want to get something from the other person. This approach ignites authentic connections that turn into valuable professional contacts.
The Results: Networking boosts your career
People who network reap the rewards. According to Business Network International, 98 percent of businesses agree that networking is key to success.
Similarly, a Harvard study showed that lawyers who networked effectively were likelier to get plum assignments and attract business to their firms. Those who disliked and avoided networking reported fewer billable hours.
A robust network is also imperative when looking for a job. According to a CNBC report, only 30 percent of available jobs are published publicly, while the other 70 percent are kept at a low level. When it comes to actually filling those jobs, 80 percent go to personal and pre-existing professional connections.
As the Harvard study authors say, “A mountain of research shows that professional networks lead to more job and business opportunities, broader and deeper knowledge, improved capacity to innovate, faster advancement, and greater status and authority. Building and nurturing professional relationships also improves the quality of work and increases job satisfaction.”
The future of networking
Networking is vital to your career. The good news is that people no longer have to force themselves to attend painful networking events or rally themselves to have the “right” mindset about networking. Instead, new social networking platforms make adding professional contacts simple and easy.
The future of networking is here. Consider how you can take advantage of next-generation platforms and elevate your career.
