5 Tips for The Novice Networker

Networking plays a big role in launching your career. But as a beginner, where do you start?

My best piece of advice is this: there is no one-and-done method to relationship-building.

There definitely is a science and art to it. It’s a skill that anyone can learn and should take time to master. Understanding how to properly network early on and getting it right from the beginning helps you form strong foundations with influential professional connections, and it can fast-track your career.

Here are my top five networking tips that apply not just to novices, but to anyone interested in creating meaningful relationships that matter.

Know your why

What’s your reason for networking, are you seeking a new job role? Are you looking to build connections with colleagues or be more sociable? Is it for health reasons, since forming relationships helps to combat loneliness? Just like with anything else, when you understand why you’re doing it, you will be better motivated and establish an attainable plan to accomplish it.

Set goals

Once you know your why then it’s time to establish some goals. For instance, set a target of making three new connections a day on LinkedIn or learn to perform the Five-Minute Favor. One of the most important tasks you can do is to make networking a daily habit, even setting aside 30 minutes each day to accomplish your objectives makes a difference. Then you must make a commitment to do it – and hold yourself accountable.

Establish your worth

When you know the value you can provide to your connections, you turn the relationship into a mutual benefit. Don’t focus only on what you’ll gain from it; it’s more important to concentrate on how valuable you can be to people and the expertise or advice you can offer that will aid in the success of others.

Adopt the proper mindset

Handle relationship-building the right way and get in the correct state of mind. Learn what networking really means and make a point to be focused and in the right mindset. How you approach it will influence what results from it, and you need to employ a positive outlook and go into it with all the right intentions.

Play the long game

When you lay the foundation for long-term relationships you set yourself on the right track to success. Making connections, especially early on in your career, should not be quick wins but instead something you develop over time. And over that time, you must concentrate on building mutual trust and value with others in your spheres of influence. This is how you form quality networks with people you can depend on and will consistently be there for you, both professionally and personally.

Following these tips will put you on the correct path toward creating meaningful connections. But this is only the start to building the right relationships, there’s so much more to learn!

I encourage anyone that is a novice networker to explore our certification course. This online training immerses you in the fundamentals of relationship-building and offers validation of what you learned through a professional certification as a NetWorkWise Certified Professional (NWW-CP).

Earning this credential puts you steps ahead of your peers and helps you stand out as an employee or job candidate. Enroll in our online training course today! When you learn these valuable skills and implement them early on you will carry them with you throughout your career, keeping you on track toward reaching your ultimate goals.

See original article on Quora