Social media is all the rage when it comes to networking these days–there’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr, and a slew of other sites for connecting professionals and sharing what you know. But as social media continues to move in as the dominant strategy for professional networking on the job search, traditional networking techniques can actually serve to help you stand out.
A post on Brazen Life recently detailed a few ways in which you can make “retro networking” work for you. Check out a few of their tips below:
1. Leave home. Brazen Life suggests travelling to meet new people, but you can do this even without the money for plane tickets. Attend networking events, or call up a professional you admire and ask if they’d like to have coffee to discuss their career and industry. Face-to-face conversations forge strong connections that social media often can’t duplicate, and your contacts will appreciate the added effort.
2. Link up from LinkedIn. LinkedIn allows you to see who’s viewed your profile, but make sure to also set your settings so others can see when you’ve viewed their profiles. If you notice someone has been scanning your page, “view it as a professional compliment and get in touch,” says Brazen Life. Even if you and the viewer aren’t already connected on LinkedIn, this is a good opportunity to potentially forge a beneficial new professional relationship.
3. Make dates with schoolmates. Get back in touch with those you attended college or high school with. Sign up for an alumni newsletter and look out for opportunities to meet your former classmates in person. Chances are, you won’t feel like a stranger introducing yourself at these events, where you know you and the other professionals already have something in common to discuss–your alma mater.
You can check out more retro networking tips on Brazen Life here.
What are some traditional networking practices you employ? Share your tips in a comment below!
