Getting started with your network

Many young professionals are already aware of how important networking is and it is a good start. By realizing the importance of your network, you already developed the right mindset towards your career. However, many of you still don’t know where to start and what to do with networking.

We have concluded insights on networking based on our interview with Eline Krommenhoek, a 25 years old freelancer for networking organization, where her responsibility is mainly about strategy. There are three things that you need to understand to get the ball rolling in your professional networking:

Building your own personal network:

• Join study association / organization

• Visit networking events on certain subject

• Wherever you go it’s good to make a good impression

• Build a lasting relationship by maintaining it and keep in touch with people (not only adding them in LinkedIn and contact them when you need help)

• Get to know people outside your age group, because people from the older age have more experience or already specialise in certain industry, and they can actually give you opportunities in more aspects of your life. Whereas people in your age group are mostly just starting in the professional career like you.

Maintaining your network:

• See and meet them in person

• Ask people for their help or get to know more information about certain subject from the people in your network that specialise in it

• Ask questions and be interested in them

• Share your ideas as well!

• A lot of people feel more open when they talk about what they do or interested in

• Don’t forget to ask about their life as well, life is not only about your career

• Call and interact with them regularly, it can be

Definition of a good connection

• For Eline, a good connection is people that support you and your ideas, basically those who want to see you thrive

• People that can give you useful insights, inspire you and brings the positive energy

• A good connection is not necessarily about business or work, it is really on the personal level