How to Network

Networking is a term often used in career advice, but it is rarely explained what it actually means. In this article, we will break down three simple steps you can take to track, build, and maintain a strong professional network.

If you want to understand the value of networking, Arena’s Deputy Director of Training, Jessica Angima, reviews key concepts that demonstrate why and how you can get started. Watch the video to learn more >>>

Here are three methods of networking that you can start incorporating into your daily life.

Identify your needs: Why are you networking? Is it to help you find a job or get support in a current role or just to stay in touch? Identify your primary goal and think through who you know that could help you with your needs.

It can be hard to remember who you’ve met throughout your career. That’s why you have Arena! We have a simple process to help you build a networking list:

First, list the kinds of jobs you want or the experience you’re looking to gain, whether it’s the next role on your search or a role you wish to land five years from now. What fields are these in? What skills do they require?
Second, make another list of the people in your life who have these skills or have been in similar positions. Unsure? Hop on LinkedIn and start going through profiles. Even if it’s just one person or a person who is adjacent to what you’re looking for, start with them and ask them to connect you to three people.
Third, reach out to the folks on your list. Invite them to coffee, ask them how they got into this work andhow they acquired the skills you want. If you can think of ways that they can help, make those asks. People form connections when they help each other, and that’s never more true than in politics.

With these simple steps, you can be on your way to building a network to address your needs.

2. Get in touch with your existing contacts: The Networking Bingo Card reviews a strategy for tracking your network and making sure you are building a powerful network that Michael Urtuzuastegui Melcher, Executive Coach and Author of Your Invisible Network, brought to the Arena Community. In his book, he writes that an effective relationship portfolio needs seven kinds of relationships: Weak Ties (aka acquaintances), Mentors, Colleagues, Bosses, Clients, Friends, and Beneficiaries.

Use the spreadsheet in the Networking Bingo tool to visually represent your relationship portfolio and plan how to engage with it in a month. The spreadsheet acts as an interactive bingo card that lists all the core categories and has a space to set monthly goals for how you want to interact with people.

This tool also provides some template messages you can send to folks to reconnect, show appreciation, and brainstorm solutions to challenges you might face.
Doing this will allow you to continually build on your network over time, as new contacts will be added to the portfolio and contacted in the future.

3. Keep it simple with the Almighty Ping: We all know that life gets busy, especially when GOTV season hits. You can go months without speaking to someone who was your closest peer in your last role. If you’re nervous about warming up cold contacts, Michael Urtuzuastegui Melcher has another incredible tool for you: the Ping.

The Ping is a small message built to reconnect with folks in a way that shows you’re thinking about them. It’s built using a what, why, and how. The what is “what made me think of you,” the why is “why I’m reaching out,” and the how is “how we can continue this conversation.” Often, a ping doesn’t require a reply. This way, you stay on people’s radar without them feeling like they owe you something. Here are a few examples:

Sharon – I passed by the coffee place we always went to and thought of you. The weather is dreary here – you made the right move by going to California lol. Sending love to the family! – Veronica
Hey Jeff, I saw this remarkable article on Arena about making networking easy. You might have some thoughts. Let me know what you think! Hope you’re well, Jason.
Rajindra, I was watching Succession last night and told Ted, “I bet Rajindra could explain EVERYTHING happening here! I hope all is well with you. btw, I’m learning to run for public office! More info to come 👀

With these examples, we hope you understand that networking doesn’t have to be complicated or slow to start. A simple send can be your first step to unearthing your network and building an active foundation.