Feb 4, 20234 min read

Networking 101: Tips and Tricks for Building Professional Connections and Finding Your Next Career

Here are some tips and strategies for building professional connections and finding job opportunities:

Attend industry events and conferences: Meet people in your field and expand your network by attending conferences, trade shows, and other industry events.
Engage online: Engage with relevant industry groups that you are targeting online through platforms such as LinkedIn, become part of the community and over a period you will start reaping the benefits.
Volunteer: Volunteer for organisations and causes that interest you. Not only will you be giving back, but you'll also meet new people and make valuable connections.
Ask for introductions: If you know someone who knows someone in your desired field, ask for an introduction. This can be a great way to meet new people and learn about job opportunities.
Offer help: Be proactive in offering help to others in your network. If someone you know needs assistance with a project or job search, offer to help if you can.
Stay in touch: Keep in touch with the people you meet. Send regular emails, LinkedIn messages, or make a call to catch up. Building and maintaining relationships takes time and effort, but it's worth it.
Join professional organisations: Join professional organisations in your field. This can be a great way to meet new people and learn about job opportunities.
Utilise job search engines: Utilise online job search engines such as The Go-To Guy Job board and LinkedIn Jobs to find job postings that match your skills and interests.
Virtual events: Many events have gone virtual, including conferences, trade shows, and networking events. Look for virtual events in your industry and participate actively.
Social Media: Utilise social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with others in your industry. Participate in industry-related discussions, share relevant content, and engage with others' posts.
Video Calls: Reach out to people you would like to connect with and schedule a video call. This can be a great way to build relationships and learn about job opportunities.
Professional organisations: Many professional organisations offer virtual events and resources for members. Join relevant organisations in your field and participate in their virtual events.
Career fairs: Many career fairs have gone virtual. Look for virtual career fairs in your industry and make connections with employers and other professionals.
Email outreach: Reach out to people in your network or people you would like to connect with via email. Introduce yourself, explain why you would like to connect, and offer to schedule a call.

By following these strategies, you can build strong professional connections and increase your chances of finding job opportunities.

When using The Go-To Guy Job Board or tools such as Linkedin what should I keep in mind? When using The Go-To Guy Job board or LinkedIn for job searching, here are a few things to look out for:

Relevant job postings: Make sure the job postings you apply to are relevant to your skills, experience, and career goals.
Company culture: Research the company culture of the organisations you are interested in. Look for information about the company's values, mission, and employee reviews on Glassdoor.
Hiring process: Research the typical hiring process for the companies you are interested in. This can include things like pre-employment testing, multiple rounds of interviews, or online assessments.
Keywords: Make sure your The Go-To Guy profile, LinkedIn profile and resume include relevant keywords for your desired role. This can help increase your visibility to potential employers.
Random Contacts: Be aware of random organisations reaching out to you. Make sure they are legitimate before sharing personal information or applying to any jobs they may suggest.
Salary expectations: Research the average salary range for the role you are interested in.
Job requirements: Make sure you fully understand the job requirements before applying. If there is something you are unsure about, reach out to the hiring manager or recruiter to clarify.

By keeping these things in mind when using LinkedIn and Indeed, you can increase your chances of finding a job that is a good fit for you and your career goals.

Other Valuable Tips

Create a shareable online profile: Create a professional profile here on The Go-To Guy and on Linkedin, then start engaging with your immediate environment and share your link to your profile page when you Connect with current and former coworkers, classmates, and other professionals in your field online and in the physical contact environment.
Responding to a position advertised: Do not make the error to send a message stating only that you are interested, respond by briefly introducing yourself, stating that you would be interested in the position, briefly stating why you believe you are a good candidate for the specific job focusing on the key points the poster placed in the job ad, and how you could be contacted, end the response by thanking the person for possibly being able to have a discussion and that you are looking forward to hearing from them. If applicable mention that you do have references.

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