Networking is often touted as a critical tool for career advancement. This holds true across the technology and engineering fields, regardless of the stage of your career. Whether you’re looking for your first job, a shift to a new specialty, or an exciting new C-Suite role, your professional network can help you find and secure the opportunities you need.
But networking is more than a tool – it’s a skill. And, like any skill, it requires work to develop and strengthen. At its base, networking is about making connections with others, which requires communication skills, active listening, empathy, and the ability to critically receive feedback. It requires a strategic approach and, more than anything, it requires practice.
The Importance Of Networking In Tech And Engineering
Networking is about building and strengthening relationships that can contribute to your career growth, whether those relationships lead directly to new job opportunities or more simply provide space for learning opportunities (both formal and informal), knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration.
We tend to think of networking as a way to connect with individuals who can point us to or provide us with new career opportunities. But networking is also about connecting with people who can help you develop your professional knowledge and skills, so that you’re ready to jump at career opportunities as they arise.
There are several different ways that your network can ultimately enhance your career growth.
Opportunities For Collaboration, Innovation, And Skills Development
Collaboration and teamwork are key for many roles within the tech and engineering fields. Professionals in these sectors often work in cross-disciplinary teams to solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions.
Your network provides a similar type of team, allowing you to tap into the expertise and skills of a diverse group of people. You may come to rely on your network as a group to bounce ideas off of, while you tackle work-related challenges. But also, connecting with your network gives you a chance to hone your interpersonal and communication skills and your ability to receive constructive feedback.
Updates On Industry And Technology Trends
With the pace of the development in the engineering and tech sectors, it’s critical for professionals in these fields to stay abreast of industry trends. Your network can be a valuable source of knowledge about emerging trends in their areas of specialization. They can also help connect you with industry events, conferences, and professional communities (both online and in person) that can further enhance your knowledge.
Mentorships And Personal Advisory Boards
Mentors and personal advisory boards can play a pivotal role in your career development. Traditionally, mentoring involves a one-on-one relationship between a mentor and a mentee, with a focus on the mentee’s area of professional specialization. A personal advisory board, on the other hand, is a collection of individuals who you trust as a source of accountability and support. These boards typically provide broad assistance with the development of your soft skills and your overarching career path.
If you don’t already have a mentor or personal advisory board, someone in your network may be able to step into one of those roles. If not, they may be able to connect you with someone else who can.
Assistance With Building A Personal Brand
Taking control of your personal brand is becoming increasingly important to the development of your career path. While many of us think of personal brands in terms of politicians, celebrities, and social media influencers, all of us have a brand – an online image based on our virtual activities – whether we actively shape it or not. By putting thought into how we project ourselves online, we can shape our brands and the perceptions that people have about us.
Your network connections can assist with the development of your brand. They can provide feedback on how effective your brand is, suggest platforms on which to share your brand, and offer support for your branding efforts (for example, by liking and sharing your content on social media platforms).
Sharing Your Knowledge And Expertise
It’s clear that your network can have a critical influence on your career path in several different ways. It’s important to remember that participation in professional networks is meant to be reciprocal. Just as your network is helping you develop your soft skills, stay updated on industry trends, and establish your personal brand, so too should you offer the same kind of assistance to others.
In an excellent blog post, Dan Long asserts that:
The cornerstone of effective networking is the genuine interest in mutual growth and the sharing of knowledge. This involves more than just collecting business cards or adding connections on social media; it requires actively engaging with your network. Sharing relevant articles, participating in discussions, and offering help or advice when possible are all ways to contribute meaningfully to your network. These actions not only enhance your visibility within the community but also position you as a thought leader and a valuable resource to others.
Simply put: one of the most effective ways to leverage your professional network is to participate in it.
Networking Strategies For Tech And Engineering Professionals
Whether you’re just starting to develop a professional network or looking to strengthen an established one, it’s important to approach networking strategically. By putting some thought into your approach and prioritizing different networking strategies, you’ll be able to optimize the potential of your network.
Define Your Networking Goals
For many people, networking is tough. Even if you’re extroverted, approaching strangers for help can be difficult. Defining your networking goals or establishing a focus for your networking activities can help. Knowing what you need can help you figure out who best to approach and what to ask for.
In a helpful piece at LinkedIn, Nitin Julka shares that his very first step in networking is to define his learning goals. Once he knows which questions he needs to ask, what decisions he needs help with, and what kind of learning opportunities would be most helpful, he sets up a learning plan, which involves reaching out to people for help. Julka explains that he creates a list of people who he wants to learn from, which might include not only professional colleagues and industry experts but also colleagues, friends, mentors, managers, and bloggers.
Julka does say that while he reaches out to specific people in relation to his learning goals, he tries to learn from everyone, including his colleagues and peers. These shared learning opportunities are excellent ways to add to your network.
Develop Your Online Presence
There is no question that online platforms provide excellent networking opportunities. LinkedIn is one of the best. Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is optimized and be active on the site so that you can connect with like-minded people.
In addition to LinkedIn, look for ways to network on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter and on forums like Stack Overflow and GitHub. Follow established experts in your field and engage with their posts by liking, sharing, and commenting on their content. Join relevant online groups on other social media sites that are specific to your industry and/or area of specialization. As with LinkedIn, be an active participant in these groups, sharing your own projects and knowledge and connecting with people who might be valuable to your network.
While you can and should post content to LinkedIn and social media sites, you may want to consider creating a blog or website where you can share your interests, demonstrate your knowledge, and showcase your projects. The more content you share, the more you shape your online brand and draw valuable connections into your sphere.
Attend Industry Events And Conferences
In-person and virtual events that have a focus on your area of expertise are excellent opportunities to expand your network. To stay informed about relevant events, try:
- Using networking sites such as Eventbrite and Meetup to search for virtual and in-person events;
- Following the social media profiles of professional organizations and industry leaders and sign up for their newsletters if they have them;
- Keeping current with your alumni association and network; and
- Asking your network, colleagues, and friends to alert you of any events that they hear of.
While attending your chosen events, optimize their networking potential by participating as much as you can in networking sessions, workshops, breakout sessions, and panel discussions. As well, consider volunteering at these events since that is a terrific way to meet organizers and speakers.
As difficult as it can be, take the initiative to approach people, start conversations, ask questions, and always actively listen as a way to show that you appreciate the time and expertise of the person you are speaking with. After a meaningful discussion, ask to exchange contact information and follow up on that connection within a week of your conversation.
Join Professional Organizations
Professional associations related to your sector and/or area of specialization are incredibly valuable when it comes to networking. Often, part of their mandate is to offer resources and events as well as a platform for professional development, mentorships, and networking.
After becoming a member, optimize the networking potential of these organizations by actively participating in them. Consider:
- Attending meetings at your local chapter;
- Becoming involved in committees, special interest groups, and/or leadership roles within the organization; and/or
- Taking advantage of their mentorship programs.
As with all other networking strategies, the ultimate value of joining a professional organization rests with the work you put into it.
Nurture Your Network
Networking takes effort and it’s a reciprocal arrangement. Stay in touch with your valued connections, not only when their help is needed, but just to check in, provide updates on your career progress, or to offer help of your own. These check-ins can be via email or text, in person coffee meetings, or via virtual conferencing. As Dan Long points out in his blog post, “… building a strong network in the engineering field is a deliberate and ongoing process that extends beyond the initial connection. It requires active participation, genuine engagement, and a commitment to contributing to the community.”
