While networking online, provide solutions, ask questions and offer ideas in various discussion groups in short, showcase your values
Why is networking such an important part of the job search process?
Good networking creates and promote your brand statement.
Connecting with professionals in your field can be insightful in terms of understanding industry trends, hiring scenario and career management. Along with the routine hiring process, recruiters rely on finding candidates through trusted and reliable sources' networks, giving them a head start on the candidate's background, rather than a mere list of qualifications.
So, as a start to your job hunting process, try to join job networking groups on various online platforms and look for opportunities to connect with fellow professionals and reach out for advice and information about vacancies. However, before you actively start sending out requests for informational interviews, recommendations and queries on available vacancies, take note of some common networking protocols: Engagement is the keyword: Participating in networking groups is quite different from being on job sites.Instead of sending routine applications to job postings and waiting for an interview call, online groups depend on active engagement. Not everybody is job hunting like you people connect for various networking opportunities (entrepreneurial ventures, seek freelance projects, etc.) so find common grounds to connect on and strike up conversations.
Listening and learning can be very insightful when you are looking to change jobs.
Value creation: Just like you would convince a prospective employer to hire you by showcasing your strengths and skill sets in an interview, you can successfully network through online groups if you focus on building associations by allowing others to see the value and expertise that you bring to your professional profile.
Provide solutions, ask questions and offer ideas in various discussion groups in short, showcase your values!
Connect with fellow job seekers: Do not come across as a self-centred needy person desperately looking to associate with potential employers or job leads. Go beyond your self-interest and have something to offer to others. Share information about a job lead you learnt about, a write-up on a website that could be helpful for those seeking job changes, or even an interesting event that could be useful in skill building and career advancement.
Speak out, but use your discretion: Add thought behind every networking activity that you initiate or engage in. Maintain professional decorum of the forum that you participate in and refrain from taking out steam if you have problems at work. If you feel the need to vent, do so privately.
Reserve networking groups for discussing job and career prospects, and maintain a positive professional image at all times.
Lastly, stay engaged with your network even once employed. Networking is not just a job seeking tool, but also a long time job insurance that will be useful to you at every stage of your job and career growth. Stay connected!
(Source-: shine.com)