Just Starting Out? Here’s Why Networking Is So Important

Let’s face it, success is not only about how hard you work—it’s about who you know. Building meaningful relationships with professionals who will be your champion when your dream job comes calling, mentors who will teach you their industry lessons, and peers who will grow right beside you are key to career success.

We spoke to networking expert and author of Build Your Dream Network, J. Kelly Hoey about what young professionals should do early on in their careers to build their professional networks.

What advice would you give to young professionals just starting out their careers?

Kelly: Take more risks earlier on in your career. Seek feedback. Cultivate mentor relationships with your peers, as peer networks are a key source of career information.

You encourage your followers to create personal value for others. Can you explain how young professionals who may not have a lot of experience, can do that?

Kelly: Stay in touch with people who provide you with career guidance or assistance. Follow-up to let someone know how you used or applied their advice, or if their introduction led to a job interview or offer. Being someone who closes the loop and follows-up is a great way to add value to others who have offered their experience or connections to help you in your career.

Can you share some tips for professionals who are just starting to build their professional network?

Kelly: Here are some ideas on ways to build your professional networks (if you don’t know where to start building one):

1. Stay in touch with the network you have already (friends, classmates).

2. If you’re a college graduate, be sure to keep your profile updated in your school’s alumni network.

3. Check out affinity groups in your place of work.

4. Peruse the profiles of work colleagues you admire and see what industry organizations or associations they belong to—then look into joining them as well.

5. Raise your hand and volunteer for a community service project (whether through work or with other professionals).

6. Find Meetup groups around your subject-matter expertise.

The biggest tip is to make building relationships, both within your company and within the industry your company operates, a priority. It’s really easy to put networking on the back burner when you’re caught up in the day-to-day of your job. However, having a strong network will make your job easier in the short run (you’ll have people to turn to for answers) and provide you with greater opportunities in the long run.

What are some of the biggest obstacles you faced early on in your career and how did you overcome them?

Kelly: My biggest obstacle was my mindset around my abilities and broader career prospects. I tried to overcome them initially by working hard—and guess what? Keeping your head down and doing good work, just makes you tired, irritable, and scared. It wasn’t until I sat down to give my career a thorough review (i.e. what I enjoyed and valued) that I then invested in pursuing a new career path and gained confidence.

What are your biggest tips for success, especially for those just starting out their careers?

Kelly: I have three tips:

1. Build your expertise. You are your own best investment and no one can take away from you the skills and knowledge you develop.

2. Build your network. Ambitions and career dreams are fueled into reality with the help of others.

3. Build your bank account. Create a “Yes-Me Fund” so you take career risks and make career moves without the shackles of having to earn a specific amount.

Want more career tips? Follow NAF on LinkedIn.