Following on from our recent blog article on networking, in this article we will explore how you can effectively grow your professional network. Growing your professional network has never been easier, especially with the prolific use of social media channels, specifically LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is a social hub of business professionals and is also the world's largest online professional network. Therefore it is a good tool to utilise to start expanding your professional network. To start, try connecting with friends and colleagues, and see who they have connected with in relevant fields. It is also worth requesting to join relevant professional groups relevant to your job title or industry. In these groups you can learn about your industry, and meet new professionals who operate within the same sector or similar sectors. However it is important to not only connect with professionals and view content. In order to effectively grow your professional network, you need to share content on LinkedIn. Posting about subjects relevant to your role, writing and sharing a short blog, and sharing company updates are a good way to encourage people to engage with your profile and to connect with you.
In today’s ever-evolving job market, it is easy to move into new roles and to forget about updating your LinkedIn profile. However, in order to successfully grow your professional network, you need to keep your profile up to date with new jobs to help your network to keep in touch with you. When you move into a new role or if you move into a new sector, by updating your LinkedIn account your professional network can congratulate you and it may prompt new conversations and new connections as a result.
In order to successfully nurture and grow your professional network, it is important to show that you care and support your professional network. It is easy on LinkedIn to focus only on yourself and on showcasing your own achievements. In order to nurture and grow your professional network, you need to show that you are worth connecting with. Regularly congratulating your network on posts about their new jobs, promotions, new qualifications and their posts about their achievements at work are vital ways to show support to your network, and in doing so it encourages others to connect with you and to show you the same level of support.
Virtual networking opportunities such as LinkedIn are a vital way to grow your professional network, however in person networking opportunities are essential for nurturing and growing your professional network. There is not a substitute for face-to-face interaction and meeting professionals in person. One of the best ways to meet professionals in your sector or in related fields is to attend a professional training course in person. In Professional Development’s face-to-face training courses offer a perfect opportunity to learn new skills and gain qualifications while also taking advantage of a prime networking opportunity. Our courses feature breakout groups, networking mixers and group learning and activities. In our post-event feedback, our courses are regularly praised as being a prime networking opportunity, and many of our learners stay in touch with each other and with the course tutor after the course has ended.
Networking events and mixers are prime opportunities to meet other professionals. Core business industries such as finance, marketing and sales have many networking events and conventions that are perfect opportunities for expanding your professional network within your industry. Looking out for upcoming event dates on LinkedIn groups, upcoming conferences at venues, and upcoming webinars are an excellent way to find effective networking opportunities for you to meet other professionals within your industry and to expand your professional network.
At In Professional Development, our professional training courses are a prime opportunity to learn industry relevant skills and qualifications and to also expand your professional network. To find out more about our courses, visit our Courses page, and click on the relevant course. Alternatively, or if you’d like more information before booking, email us at enquiries@inpd.co.uk, send us a message using the form on our Contact page, or call us on 0161 826 3139. We look forward to hearing from you and advising you on the right course for you.