Expanding Your Professional Network

Most of us have heard the mantra: "It's not what you know, but who you know."

At first glance, this seems like an indictment on favoritism, nepotism, or other forms of bias that would make you cringe. And I completely understand how a person might see it that way, especially if they have experienced being overlooked or declined in favor of someone who was "better connected."

While there is certainly an unacceptable and disgusting vein of professional career development that centers on bias and "good ole' boys clubs," there is also a wonderful, beneficial aspect to building a strong network of friends, colleagues, clients, etc.

And since I started with an archaic catch phrase, I'll use another one to counter it: "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!"

For those less familiar with that one, it means don't toss out the good aspects of something (the "baby") just because you've identified the bad aspects (dirty "bath water"). It's important to see the nuances in life.

So, let's get to the question at hand:

Why is it important to expand your professional network?

Image generated by ChatGPT on 24 Sep 2024

Perhaps you've been to "networking sessions" similar to the one pictured above; and, depending on your disposition, you may have loved them or hated them. They can certainly seem artificial and awkward, especially if you're new to the idea. But let's consider why people have done and continue to do these sort of things--they must see something valuable in all of it, right?

Yes, they do. And the value is in relationships!

And to take it a step further, the value of the relationship depends heavily on you.

In other words, the value of networking (to you) and the amount of benefit you can gain from it are directly related to the quality of the relationships that you build with people. The most successful people I've ever encountered were very relationship-oriented. (I'm sure there are exceptions to this, like with everything.)

Let's assume you're a hard-working, well-intentioned, intelligent person who is looking to start or continue your career. You have built a reputation for consistency, reliability, diligence, etc. 

But how does this help you when you want to advance in your career?

1) Referrals / References

One of the most obvious ways your network can/will benefit you is when you apply for a position at a company or organization. Once they are serious about you as a potential candidate, they will ask you for a list of references that will (hopefully ) vouch for you and verify the positive things you said about yourself on your resume and during your interview(s).

The Bible mentions this principle (Proverbs 27:2) when it says, "Let another [person] praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." For clarity, the word "stranger" here means a person not known by the recipient of the information, not a person that you don't know! The person speaking on your behalf must know you!

As a side note, remember that people can talk to each other even if you did not arrange for it. So, even if your former professor or employer isn't on your referral list, your potential new employer could still call/email them to complete their due diligence. This may not happen much for entry level positions, but I believe it happens more as you start applying for higher level / leadership positions. Those hiring managers will look into many aspects of who you are, whether you ask them to or not.

2) Opportunity Awareness

Perhaps you're very savvy about knowing what's out there in terms of opportunity, but I wasn't aware early in my career. I had a very narrow vision of what I could do, and only by talking to people in my network was I able to learn about opportunities that I (likely) never would have become aware of. 

Proverbs 11:14 says, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in abundance of counselors, there is safety."

Your network of people can help guide/counsel you with understanding the value of your experience and skillsets and what opportunities you might be overlooking or not aware of.

3) Career Advice

Many times in my career, I have encountered new situations (to me), and I needed advice. Books and other resources are nice to have, but sometimes the best advice comes from someone who knows you personally and can listen to the nuances and details of your situation. 

Next up, let's take a moment to look at how to grow your network.

How do I expand my professional network?

1) Be the type of person that people want to associate with.

This is at the top for a reason. This starts with you. 

If you're disorganized, lazy, incompetent, hateful, rude, or unreliable, your network will not help you. They will give a true report (most likely) of who you are.

Networks are not magic wands that will come to your aid while you sleep on the job (figuratively or literally).

2) Don't burn bridges.

Image generated by ChatGPT on 25 Sep 2024

You absolutely will encounter people that rub you the wrong way. Maybe their mannerisms annoy you, or you don't agree with them on politics or whatever; but in the professional arena, you ought not allow petty differences and mild disagreements to cut you off from the value of a relationship.

I'm not advocating being "fake" in your career, and there is a fine line between that and letting things roll off your back. You can be cordial, respectful, and professional, while also not being good friends with a person. So, do that when necessary.

One of the worst things a person can do is to leave a job due to not liking it and simultaneously (or afterward) unleash their frustration and fury on that place (or people in that place) after the departure. This is almost the definition of "burning bridges." 

Be aware: what I mentioned above includes posting/venting your grievances on social media. Future employers can (depending on your privacy settings) find those online posts, and that can hinder you from your next career move(s).

3) Intentionally get personal contact information from people.

Before leaving a place (college, university, employer, non-profit, etc.), be sure you can get in touch with your contacts after you move on. 

So, get personal email addresses & phone numbers before you go, because you don't know how long those people will be at that place either. Assuming you followed item #1 in this list, they should be more than happy to stay in touch with you.

4) Join a networking site/group.

As an alternative or a supplement to #3, I strongly recommend you join a professional networking community, such as LinkedIn. In today's digital world, this is almost a requirement (not necessarily LinkedIn, but something like it).

I used LinkedIn to find a job while I was a postdoctoral researcher at St. Jude, and I also ended up in my current position (as of Sep 2024) because a recruiter found me on LinkedIn.

Once again, be mindful of your posts and profile on these networks, because employers will absolutely check you out and see what type of things you're posting. In my opinion, LinkedIn is not a good place to argue controversial social issues, unless of course that's your profession; then go for it!

5) Take networking opportunities when they come.

I mentioned earlier that "networking sessions" can be uncomfortable and awkward, and some of you may avoid them altogether because you find them stuffy or artificial. Fine.

But...

Networking can just as easily happen during dinners, lunches, retreats, company travel, etc. These less "official" encounters are wonderful opportunities to get to know people better, build trust, and share who you are. So, don't pass them up.

If you are traveling with co-workers, be social. Go out with them and have the non-work conversations. Don't stay in your hotel room and watch TV or play on your phone (at least not until later that night after the social gathering).

Outro

The professional network you build will become very valuable if you are the real deal. Your expertise, education, training, and experience are also important; but let's not neglect one over the other.

A successful career is one that you enjoy and that you are well-compensated for. If that's what you're looking for, you need to strike a good balance between being the right person for the job and knowing the right people to get you the job.

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If you would like to discuss this topic directly with me, let's connect online (see 'Connect' section on left sidebar).