What Is Your Professional Network?

A professional network is a group of connected peoples who have business relations. Members of a network may share valuable information on job leads, events in your field of study, or even the “next big thing” in your field. Contacts can also provide information about hiring companies, potential hires for your company/team, and potential investors or clients that have been eyeing your work. When put into perspective, it’s clear that a professional network should both be closely connected and expansive. However, most face issues in the prospect of building their network to begin with. So, where do we start?

Who Should be a Member of Your Network?

There is a common misconception for college students that your network cannot be comprised of your friends. However, in 20 years your friends are going to be the people of industry looking to hire and connect. Do not miss the opportunity to make those friendlier connections now, because those people will be more inclined to think of you in the future due to their more personal connection with you. Allowing your friends to be members of your network does not mean you should limit your network’s scope in any capacity. You should continue to incorporate fellow members of professional organizations, coworkers, and employers. If you are a member of NSBE, ACM, WiCys, or any other professional group, make connections with people who are members and have spent time in your field of interest.

Where Can You Network?

My dearest mentor and I first met during the BDPA Conference of 2019. Did that give a big enough hint? I cannot stress the importance that conferences have had in catalyzing the development of my network. As a freshman in college, going to conferences was a great way to both figure out what my focus was and find people who could help me succeed in that area. The best part about a conference is that you will not meet a single person there who is not there to network in some respect. This is perfect for those who are a little shyer on a day to day basis. In a conference setting, there is a networking opportunity with everyone you talk to, so there is no need to stress about figuring out who to talk to at all.

Some of the most valuable things you will walk away with from a conference are connections on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a professional social media site meant to “connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful” (About LinkedIn). LinkedIn has been the most ideal way to maintain long-distance network members in my networking experience. Actively posting your self-learning journey, accolades, and aspirations on LinkedIn is a great way to keep your network members engaged in your professional journey. Often, this is a key factor in whether you are thought of or recommended for an opportunity.

Moving Forward in Your Networking Experience:

I hope that going forward, you will have more confidence in your ability to network and the ways in which you are trying to build and expand your professional network. If you have read this article and are left with any lingering questions or follow-up article suggestions, contact us at thebackend.code.blog@gmail.com