IT Professionals – Get Out There!
Networking Tips and Tricks for IT Professionals
Networking is one of the most powerful things that an IT Professional can do. It is a fantastic way to meet new people, absorb new ideas, and enhance our careers. There are a lot of great rewards to be gained from networking and “‘getting out there.” However, it is something that does not come naturally or easily to a lot of us.
In the last few years, I have made a concerted effort to improve my networking skills. This wasn’t necessarily easy. I suppose I am like a lot of IT Professionals. I went to training classes and seminars. I would meet people along the way. I had built a small, informal network of other IT Professionals I had become friends with. But I felt more at home behind my monitors; and though I was comfortable enough getting out to an event here and there, I was by no means actively networking. It took a gentle nudge from my boss and a business coach whom both suggested I actively seek out more opportunity to “get out there” and become a more active networker.
Those gentle nudges started me on a networking journey that I am still only in the beginning phases of. But I am grateful for those nudges because I have found the process to be very rewarding. I am, by no means, a networking guru or expert; but I have pushed myself to “get out there” more, and in the process, I have gained several benefits from networking. I believe I am only scratching the surface of the benefits I give and get by actively networking.
I would like to share what I have learned so far with other IT Professionals who want to improve their networking skills and “get out there” more. So allow me to share the little I have learned so far about the benefits of networking and provide you with some ideas on how you can get started. I’ll start with some of the benefits of networking and then share some ideas on how and where you can network more frequently.
Benefits of Networking
- Get Introduced to New Ideas and Concepts. This one is pretty obvious but bears mentioning. Yes, I could sit at my desk and attend a webinar and learn stuff. But it sorely lacks the in-person, one on one experience that allows me to listen, ask questions, and benefit from the rapport an in-person experience provides. And obviously, it is difficult to meet people and build relationships at a webinar. I have personally found that I gain much more knowledge from in-person seminars and networking events than I do from webinars.
- Meet new people. One of the greatest rewards of networking is at a human level. The more people you meet, and the more connections you make, the greater the chance you will meet someone who has a real impact on your personal or professional life.
- Give Back. It took me a little while to learn this, but it is powerful once you do. Go into networking with an attitude of what you can give, not what you can get. When you go to networking events, seminars, and conferences; go with a mindset of how you can provide value to your fellow participants. Seek out opportunities to share your valuable knowledge with people seeking it. It is extremely rewarding, and in the process of giving you will get as well. Meaning, you will “organically” find the people who will be able to help you as well. It is important that you spend more time listening than speaking in order to learn and find the opportunity to contribute or provide value.
- Career Development. Research shows that having an open network is one of the top predictors of career success. You have to get out there and start meeting new people to develop an open network and realize the career benefits.
Networking Ideas
- Attend local technology events. Even ones that do not seem of immediate interest can prove to be valuable. You may be exposed to a new concept or idea. You may end up connecting with someone and create a valuable relationship. Eventbrite is a great source to find local tech and business events.
- Attend a pure networking event. This is a great way to stretch yourself and really build those networking muscles. Go to an event that is specifically set up for networking. Even if you do not have anything to “sell” (other than yourself) it is a great opportunity to get more comfortable with meeting new people and you never know what opportunity or new relationship you may create. You can find these events on Meetup and Network After Work. This is a great way to meet people outside of tech and start developing an open network
- Attend a seminar that gets you out of the office for a few days to just focus on new opportunities. But remember, do not just go with the goal of learning; have a networking goal in mind to meet a certain number of people while you are there.
- Ask someone to lunch. Once you have made a connection with someone at an event, invite them to lunch to share ideas, provide them with valuable insight that could benefit them, and to learn from them. Ask one of your co-workers out to lunch (especially someone not in IT). This is a great way to learn more about their projects and goals and to see how you can help them succeed.
- Join a technology-focused professional organization. This is a great way to network with your technical peers while also staying up to date with the latest technology trends. These organizations have local chapters that are often very involved in the local community through education and outreach programs. It is also a perfect opportunity to meet other IT professionals and leaders in your region. Examples of these professional organizations include the Society for Information Management (SIM) and the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP).
- Volunteer. There are many not for profits that are looking for technical assistance from IT professionals. From understanding and implementing cloud technologies to designing their website; there are a lot of ways you can assist these organizations and give back (see above). Along the way, you can also meet a lot of great people and grow your network.
So there you have it. There are a few of the benefits of networking and some ideas for how you can network more often. Both these lists are only scratching the surface. As you start or continue your own networking journey you will discover your own unique benefits and ways to strengthen your network.
As I go to more technology events I find myself a little surprised by the number of empty seats I see. Every organization has an IT Leader that could benefit from the content of the event or could use the opportunity to meet new people and network. Push yourself. Get out of your comfort zone. Fill those seats up. I encourage (and challenge) all IT Leaders and Professionals to “Get out There” and become more active in their local technology community.
Please share any of your Networking ideas or benefits in the comments below. And please feel free to reach out to me if I can help you with your own “Networking Journey”. I would love to help you see the rewards!
