The Art of Networking

By Lilly Mazzocchi

As 20-somethings, we are at the starting line of various races with a small slate of relevant real-life experience. It’s exciting to be on the precipice of the job hunt, but the process requires patience and vigilance. Here's how to master the art of networking this spring:

1. Set the Tone

Adequate networking involves establishing professional relationships, not asking someone you do not know for something you do not have. Gratefulness will leave a strong impression on anyone you cross paths with. Whether they're the interviewer, a mentor, or a new connection, thank them for their time at the beginning and end of the interaction. It shows you appreciate both them and their knowledge. More than likely, there is nothing we can offer them that they don't already have. It is important that you thank them for spending their valuable time with you.

2. Make Yourself Available

The rules for dating and networking are similar, but not quite the same. We do not clear our calendars for new crushes, but we will for a career-impacting connection. There is a delicate line between hounding someone to speak with you and showing some polite persistence. Regardless of whether it's morning, noon, or night, you take the meeting if the conversation could propel your prospects forward. As the saying goes, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” The first discussion leaves the door open to meet again down the road.

3. Demonstrate Your Intelligence With Tact

You should never enter a professional interaction with guns blazing, trying to be the loudest, most knowledgeable person in the room. Often the smartest individuals are the quietest. They’re listening and thinking deliberately before contributing. You should have this prudence when networking, while simultaneously driving the conversation with good questions. Think of the purpose of the meeting, the inputs, and the outputs that you desire from it. Instead of “Should I do this?”, ask “What do you perceive to be the pros and cons of X or Y?” If the conversation is flowing, then ask them for the best advice they've been given, the biggest lesson they've learned, or something they wish they knew when they were in your position. If it’s an interviewer, ask them what their goals are for their team or for their business. Another way to impress your new connection is to ask them what books they think you should be reading. This allows you and the connection to find common ground and gives you a reason to follow up with them.

4. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses now will save you later. We all have both, and pinning them down before an interviewer or mentor asks you will save you from having to scramble to invent some on the fly. Maybe you’re awesome at bringing deliverables to an unforgiving room, or maybe you know that time management is your Achilles heel. Being able to discuss them with confidence and examples will make you an even more competitive candidate. It demonstrates that you know yourself and your worth.

5. Potential Is Allowed

Here's another difference between dating and networking: we do not date potential, but we do interview for it. It is perfectly normal to enter the job market and be unsure of your options. What sounds like “the dream job” might be a role that is beyond your level of experience. It’s not a “never,” it’s a “not yet.” If there is a job that you want to apply for that straddles the line of your experience range, apply anyway. The worst that can happen is that they reject you. Or maybe, they counter with listings you do qualify for. Do you feel that you have the potential to grow into the role? If yes, apply. Prove to the interviewer how you could succeed in the role and acknowledge this as an opportunity to grow. Your experiences will shape and maybe even change your goals. We all have the potential to learn from every opportunity– whether it's the position or just the interview practice.

Our generation is entering the job market at one of the most challenging times in history. Companies are still regaining their footing from the Covid downturn, and the economy is bracing for impact as inflation continues to skyrocket. The job market is uncertain, but the best thing you can do to prepare is to equip yourself with the skills you’ll need to succeed.

Lilly Mazzocchi is a columnist at The Conservateur, a recent graduate of Texas A&M University, and a Masters Candidate at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs.

Media via @lovelychaos