7 Tips to Help You Build a Career Support Network from Scratch
Tonya Marie Towles is Expansion Network Owner at PCS Pro. PCS Pro is comprised of military spouses and veterans who are passionate about helping fellow military families and service members find their next home. With their expertise, you will have an endless amount resources that have all the permanent change of station military information that you could ever need.
It’s not what you know but who. As cliche as this sounds, there’s some truth to the saying. According to LinkedIn, the No. 1 way to find a job is through a referral, and 56% of people use professional social networks to find new jobs. That can seem like a non-starter when you don’t have a professional network. There are, however, tactics you can use to build a strong career support network from scratch:
Think strategically
Networking takes time and attention. It also takes planning, especially regarding short- and long-term goals. Identifying the intended outcome will help guide your networking efforts and keep conversations on the right track. What do you hope to achieve? Who could help you reach that goal? Could someone in your network be a mentor?
Head online
After setting a goal, the next step is to be where people spend their time: online and on social media. You’ve probably built a network on social media. Reconnect with those people. Reach out to anyone (especially on LinkedIn) you know who works in the company or industry you want to work. Be honest about your intentions. Discuss the work, potential opportunities, and their willingness to introduce you to others within the organization.
Learn something new
Sometimes, building a career support network is just a matter of exploring things you wouldn’t otherwise, like learning something new. Take a class. Get involved with a new hobby or volunteer. Join a book club. Think about your interests, and then take part in some related pastimes. These low-stakes activities allow you to interact with individuals with a common interest and build relationships with people from various backgrounds. The building blocks of a professional network aren’t just career-related.
Do your homework
Doing your homework will offer you talking points when establishing and meeting new contacts. There is only one opportunity to make a good first impression. Read industry trades, subscribe to newsletters, follow industry professionals on social media channels, etc. Build your knowledge to have meaningful conversations with others in your industry.
Networking takes time and attention. It also takes planning, especially regarding short- and long-term goals.
TONYA MARIE TOWLES
Offer your help
All good networks are built on mutually beneficial relationships. Consider what you can do to help others in your network — or even in your network’s network. Let’s say, for example, that you’re meeting with a new connection. As you discuss your background, the time is right to ask how you could help. Don’t offer unsolicited advice, but there are opportunities during discussions to relate problems someone might have back to your experience. Then share how you handled a similar situation.
Attend networking events
Attending networking events may sound obvious, but it’s important to take advantage of these opportunities to build your network. Whether in person or virtual, sign up for one related to your industry and see how it goes. Suppose you’re looking for a job in real estate. In that case, you might consider a local gathering of military homes for sale in Colorado Springs or a related event and see if you can connect to property owners interested in what you offer. You may be surprised at how easy it is to meet people looking for the same type of service you offer.
Follow up with new connections
After making new connections, you must follow up with them. Don’t just go through the standard “nice to meet you” exchange. Take an authentic interest in that person as an individual. Refer to something said during the conversation, ask if they came up with a solution for a problem, and so on. The goal is to stay connected with your new connections. So, follow up and check in periodically to see how they’re doing. An opportunity for you to add value or hear about an open role at their organization might present itself.
Starting anything from scratch is no small feat. You’re building something from nothing. Given time, however, that network will take shape and provide the returns necessary to reach your career goals. Devote attention to the task. Even 15 minutes a day can help. It will set you up for success for years to come.
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