You want to expand your professional network beyond your industry. How can you do it effectively?

Networking is not only about making connections within your own industry, but also reaching out to people from different fields and backgrounds. This can help you broaden your perspective, learn new skills, discover new opportunities, and enhance your reputation. However, networking across industries can also be challenging, especially if you have limited time and resources. How can you do it effectively? Here are some tips to help you.

1 Identify your goals

Before you start networking, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you want to explore a career change, find a mentor, collaborate on a project, or simply learn something new? Having a specific goal will help you focus your efforts and find the right people to connect with. It will also help you craft your message and value proposition when you reach out to them.

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Asha Kanta Sharma

Manager - Finance & Accounts @ Opendoors Fintech | Financial Accounting
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Expanding your professional network beyond your industry can offer diverse perspectives and opportunities. Strategies include attending cross-industry events, joining multi-industry associations, using networking platforms, volunteering for projects, taking courses, participating in meetups, online communities, seeking informational interviews, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects, participating in alumni networks, contributing to publications, attending webinars, networking mixers, being open to mentorship, conducting cross-industry research, and staying active on social media. Approaching cross-industry networking with curiosity and openness can enrich your network.

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Adriane Gay

SpEd Advocate | Consultant | Speaker | Author | Championing Inclusion and Success for Every Child | Helping Schools Streamline IEPs, Ensure Compliance, and Empower Students with Disabilities
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Expanding your professional network beyond your industry requires proactive engagement in diverse communities and platforms. Attend interdisciplinary events, workshops, and conferences to connect with professionals from other fields. Utilize social media platforms like LinkedIn to join groups and participate in discussions spanning various sectors. Seek networking opportunities in community organizations, volunteer work, or alums networks. Embrace informational interviews to learn from professionals in different industries and offer your expertise in return. Cultivate genuine relationships by providing value, staying curious, and being open to learning from diverse perspectives.

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2 Research potential contacts

Once you have your goal in mind, you need to do some research to find potential contacts from other industries. You can use online platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or industry-specific forums to search for people who share your interests, skills, or goals. You can also ask for referrals from your existing network, or attend events and webinars that are relevant to your target industry. Make a list of people who you think can help you with your goal, and prioritize them based on their relevance and accessibility.

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3 Reach out with a personalized message

The next step is to reach out to your potential contacts with a personalized message. This is where you need to be respectful, concise, and clear about your intention. Explain who you are, how you found them, what you have in common, and what you want from them. Avoid generic or spammy messages that sound like sales pitches or requests for favors. Instead, show genuine interest and curiosity in their work, and offer something of value in return. For example, you can share some insights, feedback, or resources that they might find useful.

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4 Follow up and stay in touch

Once you have initiated contact, you need to follow up and stay in touch with your new connections. This is where you can build trust, rapport, and mutual benefit. You can follow up by thanking them for their time and response, asking them for feedback or advice, or inviting them to a further conversation. You can also stay in touch by commenting on their posts, sharing relevant content, or congratulating them on their achievements. The key is to be consistent, respectful, and helpful, and avoid being pushy or needy.

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5 Expand your network further

The final step is to expand your network further by leveraging your new connections. You can ask them for introductions to other people who might be interested in your goal, or join their groups, communities, or events. You can also look for opportunities to collaborate, mentor, or refer each other. The more you network across industries, the more you will learn, grow, and succeed.

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Darren A. Smith 🤝

CEO | Soft Skills Training Provider | Sticky Learning ® | Ex-Manage £1bn Portfolio | Forbes Writer | BBC Expert | C4 Expert | The Grocer Writer | Time Management | Category Management | Negotiation | GSCOP | 34000 People
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LinkedIn is the answer to expanding your network further. Of course it is, because it is the biggest professional network, is free, and is easy to use. Here are 5 ways to expand your network using LinkedIn using the Power of 1: 1. Post once a day. Something. Anything. Something interesting. 2. Like 1 post every day. 3. Comment on 1 post every day. Be interested. 4. Ask to connect with 1 person each day. 5. Create a poll once a week. Watch your network expand. Once you are comfortable with the power of 1 and it has become a habit (Remember that you need to do something 21 times for form a habit), then move to the power of 2. Be interested. Be interesting. Have a goal of 1,000 connections in your first year. 2,000 in year 2 and so on.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You want to expand your professional network beyond your industry. How can you do it effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your goals

2 Research potential contacts

3 Reach out with a personalized message

4 Follow up and stay in touch

5 Expand your network further

6 Here’s what else to consider

Time Management

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You want to expand your professional network beyond your industry. How can you do it effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your goals

2 Research potential contacts

3 Reach out with a personalized message

4 Follow up and stay in touch

5 Expand your network further

6 Here’s what else to consider

Time Management

Rate this article

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