The Non-Networkers Guide to Networking

You don’t need to attend mixers to build a solid network. Here’s how to form a career squad in the age of social media.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

You don’t need to attend mixers to build a solid network. Here’s how to form a career squad in the age of social media.

My Reading Room

Instagram

Instagram is a great place to connect with like-minded people and brands, and you can easily discover them by using the search function. For example, if you’d like to link up with illustrators, search keywords like “singapore illustrators” and hashtags like #illustratorsofinstagram.

Start by following relevant accounts, liking posts and leaving comments, then send them a direct message and introduce yourself and your business. Tell them what you love about their work and why. If you’re trying to work out a collaboration, suggest how you can help them. The key to networking like a pro is to connect first, provide value, then once the right opportunity presents itself, ask.

LinkedIn

According to LinkedIn, you’re 40 times more likely to get work opportunities if you take the time to complete your profile, build connections and make the effort to nurture relationships.

“Keep in touch with your contacts. You can do this by sharing relevant industry information or links to articles with interesting insight. Also, take the time to congratulate a contact in your network when they have changed jobs or received a promotion,” says Kelly Soh, Senior Consultant of Projects & Change in Financial Services at Robert Walters Singapore.

Blogs

Blogs are another powerful networking platform as they allow you to share ideas with people with similar interests. “Have a clear idea of your content type, objectives and target audience when creating a blog. Publish content that will generate [a buzz] among your readers,” says Kelly. If you’re in the baking business, for example, you can write posts on the latest baking trends or where you can buy ingredients for the lowest prices around Singapore.

Also, make it a point to interact with other bloggers. “When done in a tasteful manner, leaving comments on blogs could be a great way to engage your business contacts and get a conversation going,” she adds.

Casual meeting

Whether it’s through cold e-mailing or a relationship forged on Instagram, ask people whose professional credentials and work style you admire out for coffee. “Regardless of what stage of career you’re currently at, it always helps to have someone who can offer advice or a different perspective to challenge your ways of thinking,” says Kelly.

And no, they don’t have to be someone from the same industry. “When it comes to seeking a mentor, it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who is in the same field as you,” says Kelly. “It could be someone with a different background armed with certain experiences who could potentially offer you interesting insights on your career.” 

Images 123RF.com Text Adora Wong.