Around the world, people are staying home to slow the spread of coronavirus. At a time when people are social distancing, there is even more of a need to be social, albeit from afar. People are relying on technology to help them stay connected for everything from meetings and job interviews to spending time with friends and family. You can also technology to meet new people and strengthen your professional network.
People often associate networking with small talk, elevator pitches, and stacks of business cards. But the key to successful networking is to get to know people, have genuine conversations, and provide value. You could learn about a job opening, get career advice, find a mentor, meet a future coworker or colleague, and vice versa. Right now, people are working remotely, managing businesses virtually, and taking care of their friends and family and their own physical and mental health. Reframe networking by leading with how you can provide value to other people as they navigate this new normal.
Share your skills:
Take a cue from fitness studio owners and fitness instructors who are now taking to social media to share free or discounted at-home workouts. Share your skills. If you are a teacher, you could host virtual classes on social media for parents who are struggling to work and homeschool. If you are a financial planner, you can share financial advice for small business owners and individuals. If you are an accountant, you can help people understand tax relief programs and new filing deadlines. If you are good at using technology, you can teach people how to use FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, Slack, and other tools that they can use to stay connected in their personal and professional lives. Make authentic connections by using your expertise to create value for other people.
Find online networking opportunities:
Industry organizations and alumni groups are hosting online networking events so people can connect safely. Talk to like-minded people in Facebook Groups, Slack teams, or LinkedIn groups. Learn new skills, find job opportunities if you’re looking, join conversations and, most importantly, provide value. Write meaningful comments and share your knowledge.
Schedule virtual meetings:
If you connect with someone at an in-person networking event and you think you could help one another, you’d send a follow-up email to get together for coffee in the upcoming weeks. If you connect with someone at an online networking event or in a group, send an email. Normally it is a good idea to email your strongest professional connections once a quarter or often enough that you don’t just reach out when you have a favor…like that you’d love for them to be a reference for your job search or pass your resume along to their friend who works at your target company.
While you never know exactly what people are going through in life, right now people you meet through online networking and people in your existing professional network could be taking care of friends and family members, physically ill themselves, and dealing with depression and anxiety. If you don’t already, connect with them on social media so you can get a sense of how they are doing and if they are active online. Social media is normally a highlight reel, but people have been more vulnerable and open lately. Use social media or email as the first place you connect and only ask about a call or video chat if it is necessary or if they initiate.
Network with your colleagues:
Whether it is online or in-person, the best way to network with your colleagues is to impress people by doing a great job and being great to work with. There is a reason for the adage, “Work hard and be nice to people.” You can do that while working remotely.
The soft skills that will impress people the most in the “remote work world” are communication, time management, independence, and prioritization. Reread all your emails and chat messages before sending them to see if there are ways you can organize the information more clearly like by having lists, bullet points, and action items.
Check in with your manager and people you work closely with more often than you might otherwise keep them aware of what you are working on and what you’ve finished. Ask if there is anything else you can help with. Better yet, if you see projects that need to be done or ways something can improve, offer to tackle them. Your coworkers will be impressed by your organization, dedication, and proactivity. They’ll be grateful, especially if they are at home with two kids under two, taking care of someone, or feeling mentally or physically unwell. And remember that one of the best ways you can help your coworkers and loved ones is to make sure that you take care of your mental and physical health so you can be (virtually) there for them.
