Liane Richardson, HR director at Thakeham, gives us her expert thoughts on the great reasons for networking and how to make the most of it.
Networking is something that people talk about being great for your career and how everybody should do it. However, it can sometimes be hard to capture and understand the why and the how.
In a previous role, I was involved in a small number of networking groups, mainly around my profession in HR. While there were some benefits to this, it felt limited and more effort than the value I got from it. It was when I joined Thakeham over seven years ago I quickly learnt how networking could help me personally and support our growth plans.
Most of my networks are HR focused, such as the Construction Industry Training Board, Local Skills Improvement Plans led by Chambers of Commerce, the Careers Hub and the Careers and Enterprise Company. I also regularly attend networking events hosted by lawyers and recruitment agencies.
While there is potentially merit in setting up your own networking club or event if you feel there is a real gap in the market, there are already a lot of established networking events. So, I’d suggest looking at how you could influence or join up with an existing organisation or event to get the most out of it rather than reinventing the wheel.
It’s vital that you actively seek out the right networking events for you, as there is such a vast array of events you could easily end up at a different one every day of the week. Some are sector specific, while others focus on a skill set or more generic business topics. I have become involved with more useful, targeted networks through attending events and getting recommendations from other people.
From a cost perspective, there are lots of amazing events that you would need to pay to attend. However, if you have a small or zero budget there are still opportunities you can look out for, often organised by companies hoping to gain contacts and business from prospective clients, which can work just as well.
I compare my network to a spider’s web. There are people dotted around that it would be useful to know or talk to, with networking events enabling me to connect with these people. Getting to know different people also allows me to put them in touch with each other where I can see links and benefits. This is always nice to do, especially when you see their relationship blossom with positive effects on their job or business. Generally, people are grateful to be connected for this purpose.
The extensive number of events I have attended include a legal update over breakfast in a local rugby club, a skills event with a business group and hearing from a military spy at a rifle range. You never know when you will bump into somebody who you can add to your network.
The people I have met and the opportunities that have opened for me show how making those connections and having an industry presence has been so important. I was asked to speak at a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development event in London after my LinkedIn profile gained interest online. When I attended, I got talking to a fellow presenter as her topic really interested me, and six months later she delivered training at Thakeham. During this training I was introduced to her business partner, who subsequently asked me to speak at a large event in London a year or so later, which was an amazing opportunity very much outside of my usual comfort zone. I also put both these people in touch with somebody I know running large-scale school careers events, as I could see the value they could provide to young people. They ended up delivering an amazing session adapted especially to the event.
At first it can feel awkward attending an event, especially on your own. However, I now prefer this as it drives you to speak to other people. It’s important to remember that you likely won’t be the only one feeling this way either. If available, I look at an attendee list in advance or on arrival at an event in case there is somebody from a company I am interested in or someone I recognise – speaking to people you know is a good place to start when attending events on your own. Making eye contact with a smile can also be a good way to approach people, while there’s no harm in joining a person or group and simply saying hello. In these situations, it’s useful to have a few questions ready to start a conversation. Examples could be asking people about their profession and company or what they are looking forward to about the event you are attending.
I find taking people’s names and companies the easiest way to find them on LinkedIn after an event to connect with them and follow what they are posting. I have had follow up calls after events with LinkedIn connections, with people either asking me for advice or recommendations or wanting to share things that they believe might interest me. Even if you can’t immediately see the benefit of connecting with a person, you don’t know what is around the corner and they may end up being a brilliant person to have in your network in the future. I have contacted LinkedIn connections months or even years after having first met them.
With networking, you need to put the effort in to begin with. Though, by doing so you will reap long-term rewards. You can bring new thinking into your organisation by exchanging ideas and staying informed of industry trends in the wider landscape. Personally, you can boost your confidence and communication skills and help develop your own personal brand, while building relationships with peers or senior individuals can also open doors to new roles or promotions. Why not try giving yourself a goal of attending a specific number of events over the next six months and aim to make connections with at least four new people at each event – you’ll be surprised where this could take you and your career!
