Networking will take you far away in life
Networking isn't merely the exchange of information with others and it's certainly not about begging for favors from others . Networking is about establishing, building, and nurturing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with the people you meet.Networking is not about just connecting people. It's about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.
You don't have to join several professional associations and attend every networking event that comes your way in order to be a successful networker. In fact, if you take your eyes off your smartphone when you're out in public, you'll see that networking opportunities are all around you in daily basis
Your network includes everyone from friends and family, to work colleagues, business connections, your social network, and members of groups to which you belong. Experts agree that the most connected people are often the most successful ones. When you invest in your relationships, professional and personal development– it can pay you back in dividends throughout the course of your career.
Career development, in its simplest terms, is the the process of learning and utilizing short-term skills to progress toward long-term professional goals. This process is often lifelong and involves steadily reaching milestones specific to your designated career path. It's influenced by a number of things that include the jobs you hold, the experiences you gain in and out of the office, the growth and success you achieve at each stage of your career, the formal and informal education and training you receive, and the feedback you're provided with along the way.
In today’s century, we live in the era of do-it-yourself career development. Hence the significant of networking for career development: As you network with people at your company, in your industry, and even outside your field of curiosity, you'll exploit opportunities to connect with different types of mentors and advisors, increase your prominence with senior management, further develop your areas of expertise, and improve your soft skills. To go further to the truth, there is much value in connecting with people who work at other companies or in different fields, don't discount the importance of networking in the workplace.
Who you network with and their relevance to your career matters more. Be sure to study how you can contribute to their success, in addition to how you stand to benefit from their knowledge. When networks have been created, it fosters a trade of ideas to sustain long-term relationships and mutual trust. When you are receiving ideas, it helps both in your place of work and out, in addition to instilling best practices that soothe your career.
Active networking is vital to career growth. networking is actually about building long-term relationships and a good reputation over time. It involves meeting and getting to know people who you can assist, and who can potentially help you in return. Networking is not only about trading information, but also serves as an avenue to create long-term relationships with mutual benefits.