Whether you鈥檝e been to a big event, been introduced to someone through a common connection, or directly sought out someone, you鈥檝e聽received聽a contact鈥β爋r 20. However, this is only the tip of the networking iceberg. Even after they鈥檝e accepted you on LinkedIn, you鈥檝e just started聽the process.
Maintaining your network is a very active task, and just like聽a聽garden, you聽have to聽cultivate your contacts for your network to thrive. Contacts in your network need communication, just like plants need water. This doesn鈥檛 mean spamming people constantly, but you need to be purposeful. Look for reasons to connect (and LinkedIn can give you a lot of good reminders). If their company has issued a press release for a new development in which you are interested, reach out to either congratulate them, or to find out more.聽If they聽have聽recently had a promotion or job change, reach out to congratulate them. Is there an opportunity in which you think they would be interested, or something you both enjoy?聽Then send that information their way.聽These all represent聽active and direct ways to cultivate your network.
The other great way that you can maintain your network is by generating content. If your company has a release, then create a post about that to your network. Is your company hiring?聽Put out a post for some great opportunities. Are you interested in learning more about some industry trends? You can create a poll.聽Read an interesting C&EN or ACS Industry Matters piece? Share the article聽to聽start a conversation online.聽
Still struggling to find ways to work through聽this?聽Go for the simple things. You might get notified of a work anniversary or a connection duration, so congratulate them or at least 鈥榣ike鈥� the event. Even if all you鈥檝e got is a birthday reminder, that鈥檚 a great start.
The thing聽you should do the least in your networking activity will be to ask for an opportunity. You don鈥檛 want to come off as always asking for something from others. However, when the time comes聽to聽ask for an opportunity, people are more likely to help you out if they are actively engaged with you as part of your network.
These are a few great things you can do to maintain your network. However, remember that there are some things to avoid as well. Professional networking sites are not your strictly 鈥榮ocial鈥� platforms. We don鈥檛 need to see your food pictures (unless food science is your field), and we also don鈥檛 need to have rants or blabber. A great way to get pruned from someone鈥檚 network is to have a feed full of unprofessional stuff. Keep it聽classy and lay off the networking junk food!聽
So, are you ready to聽tend聽the garden of your network? Then get the gloves on and start cultivating.
This article has been edited for length and clarity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the view of their employer or the American Chemical 中国365bet中文官网.
ACS Career Consultants are experts and leaders working in the field of chemistry who have volunteered to support other ACS members鈥� career development through one-on-one career counselling. They can stimulate your thinking, ask important career planning questions to help clarify goals, provide encouragement, teach strategies for making meaningful career decisions, and aid you in your job search.聽Connect with an ACS Career Consultant today!
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