What are the most effective networking tools for different experience levels?

"Networking Always Beats Not Working!" One of my favorite hidden networking resources on LinkedIn is based on (Attend)ing LIVE and Audio Events and then using the (Networking) tab of the event, to directly message anyone who also attended whether they are within your network or outside of your network. One sure fire way to establish that relationship with the Speakers of these event is to provide then your feedback on what they contributed to the event and in the case of an Audio Event, a screen shot of them speaking. There are few better ways to start a relationship. Go Grand, Never Bland, Brand to Land & #KeepRockingLinkedIn! Kevin On a Mission to Eliminate Organizational & Personal Blanding™

📌 To maximize networking, regardless of your career level, I advocate for LinkedIn, but with a twist. Most people approach LinkedIn as an online resume. That repels people. Instead, I coach using LinkedIn for what it is: a dynamic networking event. This draws them in. → Your Headline is your elevator pitch, your response to “What do you do?” → Your 'About' section is your response to their 'Tell me more.' This is where you deepen the conversation, sharing how and why you do what you do and the value you bring. The key is making it a two-way conversation. It's about engaging with your audience, talking to them one-on-one as if in person. This will bring your profile to life and help you make real connections. #careermanagement

LinkedIn is generally one of the best platforms you can use to connect with people in your portfolio and keep up with trends in your industry. Twitter will be stronger in some areas, but if you're looking to connect with people, nothing beats LinkedIn. Like everything in life, you will get a return for the time and effort you invest in it. The more engaged you are, the more you will get out of it.

É importante destacar que a plataforma é apenas um meio, sendo a conexão genuína e a comunicação efetiva os elementos cruciais para revitalizar ou manter esse networking. Um exercício inicial valioso consiste em listar as pessoas com as quais você deseja restabelecer contato. Avalie se elas estão incluídas em sua lista de contatos para uma mensagem via WhatsApp. Caso contrário, verifique se estão presentes em suas conexões do LinkedIn ou se há alguma outra forma de estabelecer contato.

Most of my networking outside LinkedIn is done via Telegram. It is fast, easy and powerful. In addition to regular chatting you can use it as your mobile 📱 phone. Give it a try Regards, justinomora.t.me

Simply attending an event is not enough, I meet too many professionals who aren't strategic about their conferencing. You must try your best to find out who is going, focus on a handful of the panel discussions - the ones that interest you the most. Reach out to the people on the panel that you want to speak to and ask them if you can buy them a coffee. This is a great start.

Networking tools should match your experience and goals. Early careers may focus on campus clubs or industry events to build familiarity. Experienced professionals can leverage strong alumni networks and industry associations. Regardless of level, authentic connections formed through meaningful conversations remain most impactful.

A velha frase "quem não é visto não é lembrado" é um pouco radical, do meu ponto de vista, mas tem sua razão. Eventos e workshops, além de contribuirem com sua atualização profissional, oferecem uma excelente oportunidade de rever pessoas e conhecer novas. Se você não sabe muito bem como se aproximar de pessoas e falar de si mesmo, tem receio de não parecer interessante, não se preocupe tanto com isso. Pratique demonstrar-se interessado. Faça perguntas curiosas e ouça atentamente e com reciprocidade. Naturalmente, terá mais chances de estabelecer relações valiosas.

📌 In-person networking is beneficial AND can be intimidating, at any career level. To maximize the benefits and neutralize the fear, set specific actions and goals vs. checking off a list: ☑ Research: Identify who’s attending/speaking. Goal: map out connections and topics. ☑ Prepare: Know your why. Goal: set an objective (ie meet X people, find a mentor). ☑ Engage: Be actively present. Goal: ask questions and participate in discussions. ☑ Pitch: Perfect your introduction. Goal: spark curiosity and lead them to ask you a question. ☑ Follow Up: Send personalized LinkedIn request/message. Goal: further conversations. An action plan helps you calmly turn in-person events into door-opening and enjoyable chats! #careermanagement

Aqui no LinkedIn, é possível encontrar uma variedade de eventos, muitos dos quais são gratuitos ou requerem um investimento mínimo. Participar desses eventos pode ser fundamental, especialmente se o público-alvo estiver alinhado à sua estratégia. Eles oferecem oportunidades valiosas para expandir sua rede, adquirir conhecimento e fortalecer sua presença online.

For networking novices, leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your industry. Build a robust profile highlighting your skills and aspirations. As you gain experience, attend industry events and join professional organizations for more targeted networking. Advanced professionals benefit from strategic referrals—cultivate a circle of trusted contacts who can make meaningful introductions. Remember, at every level, the key is genuine engagement and a willingness to reciprocate connections.

Aqui está o ponto-chave que muitos profissionais não dão a devida atenção: a gestão da sua rede. Pedir um favor ou uma conexão sem ter mantido um contato anterior é um erro comum no mundo do networking. Ao invés de apenas solicitar ajuda, concentre-se em construir relacionamentos reais. Cuide da sua rede para criar oportunidades de encontros e ter acesso a recursos valiosos, tornando o networking uma troca constante de conhecimento e experiências. Dessa forma, suas conexões se fortalecem naturalmente.

Atualmente, com a tendência de diversificação de carreira, é possível destacar a variedade de suas habilidades. Embora muitos profissionais ainda estejam se adaptando a essa ideia de ser multifuncional e explorar planos B e C, o uso de projetos e portfólios pessoais é uma estratégia eficaz para fazer networking em qualquer estágio de sua trajetória profissional.

Just starting out? Showcase your passion on platforms like Behance or GitHub. As you grow, craft a personal website to highlight your projects. Intermediate? Engage in relevant online communities and attend meetups. Seasoned pros thrive on strategic partnerships—collaborate on impactful projects. At every level, authenticity matters. Your digital presence is your portfolio, so make it a true reflection of your journey and skills.

Volunteering helps in many ways - getting out and talking to people (especially if you are unemployed and feeling isolated), meeting new people you might never have crossed paths with otherwise, and can be skill-building for your resume. Additionally, if you are not working, it helps to fill in a gap while you continue your search.

For the experienced do-gooders, step into mentoring. Share your wisdom, lighting up paths for others. Each impact creates a stanza in the song of shared kindness. In this giving symphony, connections build into a harmonious network, telling stories of collective compassion.

Essa é, sem dúvida, a estratégia mais eficaz para adquirir experiência, expandir sua rede de contatos e, o que é ainda melhor, oferecer ajuda a quem precisa. Em minhas consultorias de carreira, costumo destacar o valor do trabalho voluntário para os clientes. Além de proporcionar oportunidades valiosas de networking, o voluntariado é uma maneira significativa de contribuir para a comunidade e, ao mesmo tempo, aprimorar suas habilidades e conhecimentos.

📌 Volunteering is an excellent way to network, but it comes with a caveat: Don’t do it just as a career stepping stone. People can sense insincerity a mile away. Instead, aim for authentic engagement: → Choose causes that genuinely resonate with you. → Give your time and skills wholeheartedly. → Respect the cause and its people – they're more than just contacts. → Balance connecting with contributing meaningfully. When you engage authentically, you build a network rooted in shared values and genuine connections. That's the real power of volunteering. #careermanagement

Whether it's online or in person considering changing your Net"Working" perspective to Netsharing. When you prepare for each event by knowing who the participants to know and who you want to have a conversation with, it's a great start. Prepare three to five great questions to ask because it's better to be interested that interesting. Add value by preparing a follow up article, white paper, LinkedIn post etc. that you can send when you return home from the event or the next morning. Let's stop "working the room" at events. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Balance online and in-person interactions, both strengthen different parts of a well-rounded network. Most valuable are those open to helping others grow.

My overall impression is LinkedIn for beginners. The platform provides the opportunity to create online profiles and connect with work/school mates. You can also use LinkedIn to join groups and participate in discussions. Also Meetup is a recently preferred platform. For mid-level professionals, I recommend attending networking events, participating in Slack and Discord communities, and joining professional associations to expand their networks.I think advanced professionals can deepen their connections by using mentoring platforms, alumni networks, and industry-specific forums.I observe that experts also attend more professional executive networking events and access high-profile professionals by joining private groups.

Early career professionals can take full advantage of their 'newness' to reach out to individuals at all levels to schedule information interviews. It is a great way to learn more about your field of interest and/or that company, and to increase your visibility. Do.not.ask.for.a.job - that will be a short conversation if the contact doesn't know of any openings. But there is a lot of tips, tricks, and referrals to other resources that you can gain if you ask for advice, recommendations, what made the individual successful in getting to where they are.

📌 In every networking scenario, there's a constant: you'll be introducing yourself. Here are a few best practice tips: → You're not a title, don't lead with it. → Be authentic. → It's not a sales pitch. One of the best ways to introduce yourself is to tell a story that is relatable to the other person. For example: an IT Director client would say his title and people's eyes would gloss over. So we came up with this: "You know when you have that blank screen after an overnight system update?" [pause for affirmation] "I head up the department that makes sure that doesn't happen." Simple and effective. Relatable and personable. Networking is about connection, not perfection. Be yourself and you'll do fine! #careermanagement