December 9, 2014

How to create your own network

We all know that one lady at work who seems to be loved by everyone, knows all the important people, what is going on in everybody’s lives and  around the business! Some people are just great at meeting new people, forming relationships and being more likeable. That person could easily be you.

Knowing the right people in today’s world is crucial especially if you are job-hunting. More top employers are recruiting staff through employee referrals and Forbes.com stated that employee referrals are the number one way to get hired. At accountancy firm EY, employee referrals account for 46% of new hires and their goal is to push this number up to 50% next year. Getting your foot through the door and knowing the right people who can have your CV seperated from the thousands of applications is now more crucial then ever.

Creating and establishing a strong network is key whether you are looking for your next gig or if you wish to start your own business. We share 5 tips to get you started.

1. Get out of the house

You need to be visible and nothing builds great first impressions or relationships than meeting people face to face. Set yourself a target to go to one industry or interest related networking event every two weeks. There are lots of websites such as meet-up.com where you can find your nearest group based on interests or professions. Try websites such as We are the City, a website that lists events for women across the UK who work in the corporate/business sector. For those slightly younger have a look at signing up and registering with Go Think Big and The Brokerage CityLink who cater for those 16-25. They have lots of industry related networking events with top employers such as Thomson Reuters, BLP, Lloyds Insurance Market, Bauer Media, Reed Smith and many more.

2. Never underestimate the power of social media

Networking online is very important and a great way to link up with like minded people and in particular influential ones- who you may not be able to reach in person. If you are a Twitter user, make sure you are following key people in your industry and connect with them gradually- starting off by retweeting any of their tweets or replying to an interesting tweet that they may have posted. You never know when they may hear about new jobs coming up and because you would have been on their radar they may tweet you an opportunity. In addition, use Twitter to start sharing useful information and make a name for yourself online as being someone in the know about your sector. This way you will start to gain a following and a large online network. For LinkedIn users, make sure you join groups that are industry related as most sectors will have groups where people can post jobs or events for you to attend exclusively.

3. Be Genuine

Real relationships take time so you have to be patient for them to grow and to one day be useful! At our last event of the year in November 2014 at top law firm CMS Cameron McKenna a Partner explained how she developed a strong relationship with her client who was also a Partner at a top accountancy firm! She explained that, “If you are at an event and you recognise someone even if they are extremely senior just go up and say ‘hello’ and introduce yourself. If you go to another event and that same person is there, go up again and say ‘hello'”. Over time you will become familiar and naturally should develop a sincere and professional relationship.

4. Take on a new project at work

If there is a challenge or issue that needs to be solved at work, volunteer to take on that project. This could be a great opportunity to work with other colleagues from different departments, it’s something extra to put on your CV and most importantly can get you noticed by very senior employees-especially if you work for a large firm. You could even get a new job offer internally!

5. Start your own network or group

Ask yourself ‘What am I passionate about?’ ‘What are my strengths?’ Then think about a group or network either in person or online where you can bring people together. This could be setting up a a women’s network internally at work, a lunchtime running club or a choir! (Don’t laugh even HSBC have one!) This will allow you to meet more people and be seen as a connector and someone very knowledgeable.

Please let us know if you find our tips helpful by commenting below!

Need some more inspiration? Grab one of the 7 books we recommend every career girl should read here: https://www.girlstalklondon.com/7-books-every-career-girl-should-read/

Written by Vanessa Sanyauke

Follow her on Twitter here: @vanessasanyauke