Connecting With Confidence: A Guide to Networking

Not to be dramatic, but networking is one of the most important skills you will ever need in your life. Regardless of your career, or future plans, it is important to have networking skills that grow and evolve alongside you and your goals.

Networking can be difficult for various reasons. Questions can come into our heads like how do I start a conversation? What do I say to keep it going? How do I create a deep enough connection without crossing boundaries or asking unprofessional questions?

Well, as always, we’ve got you covered. Today, we’re going to answer these questions and leave you with some important tips and networking nudges to get you started.

First things first, the big HOW; although networking does require different intentions, it begins like any other conversation. Hello. Being nervous is normal and expected, but try your best to move past that. Think of all the reasons why you are approaching this person.

Networking requires a critical amount of intention to keep it moving along successfully. Try as much as you can to approach someone for valid reasons. Maybe someone works somewhere or holds a position you’ve always wanted to work; make sure you take the time to think about that. Why does this workplace or position interest you? What about this specific person intrigues you the most? Most people don’t like all their coworkers, and you may not like everyone who is in your industry. So, give yourself time to think a bit deeply before approaching anyone.

Does this person have other attributes that attract you? Maybe it’s their professionalism, their knowledge, their accomplishments, or their tenacity. There is no right or wrong answer to this, but it is important to understand what matters to you and why.

Once you have a better idea of why you want to talk to someone, it makes kickstarting a conversation all the more easy. People love to talk about themselves, so make sure to ask them what you genuinely want to know.

Here are some examples of an opening question: What drew you to this industry? How long have you held this position? Do you like what you do?

These are direct questions, which are the best openers because they lead to specificity. Now, let’s figure out how to keep the conversation going. Observe yourself, when listening to this person’s response, what peaks your interest the most? Keep that in mind and ask more about that. Don’t interrupt, just wait, then ask. You’ll find a natural flow of conversation from this.

Inquisition and curiosity are your friends here. Similar to a date, make sure to offer context about yourself. Feel free to briefly explain why you are asking. It shows care, respect, and direction. This can help the person appreciate your time and in turn make them curious about you. Let them know who you are too. Stay on topic while incrementally adding more about yourself.

This will help you avoid straying too far from the realm of professionalism. If it isn’t relevant to the conversation at hand, then it is unlikely to be important enough to bring up.

Again, when asking direct questions, it leads to direct conversations. Switching gears will only feel necessary when you’ve strayed away from relevancy. If this happens, just repeat these steps and find a new (and direct) question to ask.

There are so many possibilities when you follow these networking nudges. Sometimes less is more, and specificity stays key.

Cyasoon offers our users limitless possibilities when looking to create deeper connections. Whether it’s to branch out professionally or personally, we’ve got you covered there too.

Download our app now to get started and stay up to date with us on social media! We’re always working to help our world grow a bit more connected, so don’t miss out.

Cyasoon!