Networking for Newbies: Build Professional Connections from Scratch

An intern meets a fellow rock music buff at a café. Five years later, the intern is on the verge of landing a dream job at Facebook thanks to that man. 

This isn’t fiction. Rohit, a marketing graduate, was nearing the end of his 3-month internship at a startup. When visiting a café near his office, he saw a man sitting by himself. He immediately noticed that the man’s phone cover had a picture of his favourite band, Pink Floyd. He struck up a conversation, speaking about their mutual love for classic rock music. Rohit later found out that the man (Gaurav) had been working at Facebook for the past 2 years and helped him land a job there. 

That small ice breaker in the café helped take Rohit’s career to heights he never imagined. That’s the power of networking! 

When you’re a young professional looking to expand your horizons, networking can open doors and help you achieve your career goals. But where do you start? It can be daunting to put yourself out there and make connections with strangers. And not everyone’s going to accidentally bump into someone important like Rohit did!

That’s why we’ve put together some strategies that will help you build a strong and supportive network, one block at a time. And each block counts — just like a game of Jenga! 

Some Strategies to Expand Your Professional Network  

1. Your mom knows more people than you expect!

Your family and friends might just be the secret ingredient to your networking success! We know, just the thought of working with family causes you to wince but consider this — they are the easiest way to network and meet people. And who knows, you might just find your dream job or land that big client with a little help from your fam. It’s definitely worth a shot!
 

2. Unleash the social butterfly

Scrolling through Instagram reels again? No judgement here — we’re all guilty! But what if we told you that social media could be your golden ticket to creating a rewarding network? Yes, LinkedIn too! It might seem like a boring to use daily, but it’s worth the effort.

First, you’ve got to firm up your social media profiles — your Zuno profile too! Once you’ve got that covered, try to find some groups to join and start interacting with people there. By being a helpful and an active member of the group, you’ll make connections that could benefit both you and your acquaintance in the long run. So, grab your phone and start socialising (professionally, of course).

3. Forge connections with your alma mater

Have you tapped into your alumni association yet? If not, you’re missing out on a whole lot of networking potential. Being part of your alumni association isn’t just about wearing your school colours or breaking out your old yearbook.

Alumni associations can give you access to some amazing networking events, from career-specific mixers to more general get-togethers. But, even if you’re not at a designated networking event, connecting with your fellow alums is an easy conversation starter that could lead to some networking gold. Plus, it’s a chance to catch up with old pals or your seniors and reminisce about the good old days.

4. Reconnect with your old office buddies

Do you still keep in touch with your ex… coworkers? If you left your old gig on good terms, connecting with your former colleagues (and even your old boss!) could be a major networking opportunity.

There are plenty of conversation starters — the easiest one is to catch up on what’s been happening at the old company and swap war stories from your time there. You never know who or what they know! So, reconnecting with your ex-coworkers could lead to some rewarding connections.

5. Venture beyond your comfort zone

We know it generally makes sense to network within your industry, but have you considered looking outside of it? Trust us, it’s worth exploring.

By expanding your network beyond your field, you’re opening yourself up to a whole new world of experiences and connections. You’ll meet folks who don’t necessarily do what you do but can help expand your web of connections. You might even stumble onto a new field that piques your interest. So, never pass up any opportunity to form new connections, even if they’re outside your industry.

6. Professional relationships are a two-way street

When it comes to networking, the key is building a relationship that’s mutually beneficial. That means giving just as much as you get — that’s the best way to sustain it.

Sure, you want help and advice from your connections. But you should also be willing to lend a helping hand and add value to their business/affairs. Maybe that means spreading the word about their company to others or giving them a shoutout on social media when they achieve something awesome. When you approach networking with a “give and take” mentality, you’ll build a solid professional network that can lead to some lifelong friendships.

7. Get your to-do list ready for your next networking event

Most people will tell you that attending professional events is great for networking. But not many will tell you what to do once you get there.

Before you attend an event, do some recon by checking out the website and social media pages to see who else is going. Then, make a list of the people you want to connect with and shoot them an email beforehand to let them know you’re excited to meet them.

A proactive approach can help make the most of your time at the event and maximise your networking possibilities. It’s better than wandering aimlessly around the room hoping to bump into someone interesting — and not everyone’s going to get lucky like Rohit did.

Networking can be a powerful tool for young professionals looking to expand their horizons and achieve their career goals. While it may be scary to put yourself out there and make connections with strangers, there are many strategies you can use to build a strong and supportive network. 

Remember what we mentioned earlier — every block counts in building your professional network, and you never know where a chance meeting or conversation may lead. So, get out there, socialise and start building your very own network of professional connections!