The top 8 benefits of industry networking

You already know that education, experience and ongoing training are important parts of building a successful career. But did you know that industry networking can be just as valuable?

Networking can help you grow your career in unexpected ways and get you access to new opportunities before your competition. In this article, we explain how networking can help your career, give you advice on building your personal brand, and explore different professional networking examples that can inspire you to step outside your comfort zone. 

1. Expanding career opportunities

The number one reason people seek network opportunities and attend networking events is to meet new people and expand their professional circle. The more acquaintances you make in your chosen industry, the better your chances of hearing about, and being recommended for, upcoming positions before they’re even advertised. By maintaining a professional network, you stay front of mind with potential employers if they need someone with your skill set in the future. 

If you’re actively job seeking, it’s beneficial to attend networking events and reach out to your existing professional circle. Think of networking as an additional channel for your job search – one that provides ‘insider’ access to upcoming vacancies. 

2. Knowledge and skill enhancement

While networking is a great way to get your foot in the door at a new company, there are also benefits to networking with different departments in your workplace. By getting to know people outside of your team, you expand your inner professional circle, and open up opportunities for internal promotions and lateral moves that can upskill you in new areas. 

Even if you’re not looking to leave your team, social conversations with colleagues can pave the way for skills and knowledge sharing, or ideas for collaborations on new projects. 

Other networking in the workplace benefits for you include access to mentorship, finding new opportunities for on-the-job training, and enjoying strengthened relationships with your co-workers, creating a positive company culture. 

3. Building a supportive professional network

Once you have a good network, it’s important to continue to nurture those relationships. Sending the occasional email or message, or catching up over a coffee, is usually enough to maintain a professional relationship.

Alternatively, you may want to ask someone in your network to mentor you. When you’re starting out in your career, it can help to have a mentor or a contact you can turn to for professional advice. Not only can you learn from someone else’s experience and wisdom, you benefit from feeling supported by your peers. 

Remember that networking is a two-way street. People in your professional circle should also be able to call on you for support and advice. When you gain more experience, you could also become a mentor for someone else.

4. Increasing visibility and reputation

One of the key benefits of networking is that it allows you to build a professional brand. Networking is a great way to build a strong reputation in your chosen industry, which in turn can bring more job opportunities to you, without you having to chase them. 

Ways of building an industry reputation include co-hosting or speaking at events, writing guest blogs and featuring on podcasts – all of which could be made possible through your network. You may even find opportunities to collaborate on social media posts or other brand-building activities. The more visible you are, the more opportunities will come your way, both professional and personal.

Tips for building a personal brand

Your personal brand is basically your reputation and what people say and think about you. Having a good personal brand means people trust you and are more likely to hire you or recommend you for a position.

Some ways to build a strong personal brand include:

• Identify your niche and be clear about what it is that you do best
• Share valuable content online or through your network
• Build relationships with people in your industry
• Establish yourself as an authority in your space

It’s important to be authentic and keep your words and actions consistent to help build your network’s trust. 

5. Gaining access to industry insights and trends

Networking can be a great way to stay ahead of industry changes and be informed about market developments relevant to you and your circle. For example, someone in your network might advise you about a new AI model that could benefit you at work – valuable knowledge that can use to your advantage.

Your network functions as a news stream, where the information you get may help you make more strategic decisions. Conversely, you might be able to help people in your network by contributing your own skills and solutions.

6. Embracing digital networking opportunities

Social media opens up networking opportunities that didn’t exist 20 years ago. Familiarise yourself with the platforms that are most popular in your industry, so you can focus on creating relevant content and building valuable connections through online networking. 

As with any type of networking, you need to stay active for it to be effective. Posting regularly, creating original content relevant to your ‘brand’, engaging with commenters and even attending online events will help you stay connected with your digital network. 

7. Developing global connections

The value of networking lies not just in your local community – by using online platforms you can grow your circle globally. Digital networking is a good way to develop global connections, to engage with people you wouldn’t typically meet, and to stay in contact with any industry acquaintances you may have met overseas.

An international network can be particularly valuable if you live in Australia or New Zealand. Being so far from Europe, England and the US, it can be difficult to hear about jobs in different parts of the world. By using online platforms, you can stay in contact with people in your chosen field and ask them to keep you in mind whenever they hear of a suitable role. 

8. Overcoming personal and professional challenges

Networking can be intimidating, especially if you’re a fresh graduate and not used to building professional relationships. You may be concerned about how you present yourself or even feel like you don’t know enough about your industry to be able to connect with people. It’s important to remember that the people you meet are just like you: looking to build their network through new connections.

The best way to approach networking is to be yourself and lean on your natural strengths and interests. That might mean focusing on one-on-one conversations rather than engaging with a large group of people. Creatives might attend arts-related events or social gatherings, rather than corporate networking functions and conferences. 

Networking tips for introverts

If you are a more reserved, introverted person, networking may not come naturally to you. However, there are ways of networking that you can make work for you. Some tips for networking as an introvert include:

• Focus on 1:1 conversations over groups
• Attend smaller networking events
• Go to networking events with friends or close colleagues
• Use digital and social media platforms to connect

Networking might require you to step outside your comfort zone, but the more you do it, the easier it will become. 

Networking tips for extroverts

As an extrovert, networking may feel second nature to you. However, networking is not the same as socialising – to get the best out of your outgoing, people-loving personality, it helps to be strategic in your approach. Some tips for networking as an extrovert include:

• Spend time talking to different people and groups at an event
• Introduce yourself to new people at events, rather than wait for an introduction
• In addition to talking about what you do, ask people about themselves and their interests
• Volunteer to lead activities or speak at events
• Don’t rely only on in-person networking, stay active in professional networking platforms online

Leverage your natural ability to engage with people as a way to maintain your network and strengthen your personal brand.

Networking is especially important for people at the beginning of their career, when they haven’t yet built a professional circle. Once you’ve been working for a while, networking can help you find opportunities to develop new skills, find a mentor, or take your career in a different direction. 

If you’re not sure how to start networking, search online for industry events near you or reach out to your social or school circle for leads. The important thing is to get out there and let people know what you’ve got to offer.