It’s already hard to network in person when you’re a #introvert, but as we approach a post covid (🤞) world it’s pretty apparent that virtual work isn’t going anywhere. And that means we need to adapt in all aspects of our career including networking. I’ve compiled this list of tips that will help you ease into developing your professional relationships miles away from the office and make Virtual Networking a breeze.
1. Mindset
Even the word “Networking” can seem daunting but all it really is is socializing. So go into it that way. You can truly network with anyone. If you do have a specific always good to keep it in the industry you’re interested in but you never know who might know someone. The remainder of this article assumes you know who you’d like to get to know but if you don’t these tips will help in the future. Going into your initial meeting your main focus should be on getting to know that person and the good news is most people love talking about themselves (or the work they do). It’s not an interview so no need to be nervous.
2. Timing
If you’re sitting in on a meeting and a presenter peaks your interest send the presenter a slack message ask them if they would be free for a virtual coffee chat. If your company is at the end of the sprint or in the middle of the performance reviews be courteous and push out the meeting a week or two. It shows care and will earn you some point.
I like to set these chats for 30 minutes but in the invite I make sure that the invitee knows we can reschedule. 30 minutes will be just enough time to exchange pleasantries, ask about background, and a few questions you’ve prepared . If it’s still awkward and the conversation has stalled, feel free to “give time back”.
3. Prep
It is always good to prep for virtual networking. Take a couple of notes before your coffee chat on who you’re going to be meeting with, even if that means going to their Linkedin profile to look at their job title and their projects. Have a few questions prepared. If you’ve met them in passing or seen a previous presentation by them, pull some questions from that material and ask them to expand. They’ll be flattered that you found their work interesting. Jotting down 3 questions and doing 5 minutes of prep work can really make great first impression.
4. Follow Up
Unlike in person networking you may not be able to run into your colleagues in the hall to have side conversations. So after your coffee chat it’s a good idea to follow up. Especially if any advice came out of the initial conversation. Something like “Hey X, I recently used your advice about Y towards a project I am working on. It was very helpful so I wanted to say thanks again for that insight”. They may not even remember what they told you but who doesn’t like being thanked for their advice? They’ll be more inclined to set up more meetings with you in the future and help you out on future projects. This tip is a must for Virtual Networking.
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