These professional provided some wonderful insights, and here are some key take-aways from their discussion:

Tips on Making the First Connection

Due to social media, and most people having some type of online presence in 2023, it has never been easier to connect. However, because we are all so online and in the digital space, sometimes it becomes harder to establish deep, meaningful relationships with people in similar fields. Here are some tips that may help:

Do the appropriate research. Before you meet with a specific person (or group of people), look over their various profiles and see what common interests you may have with them. When you meet them, bring these common interests up as it will give you comfortable talking points. Remember, people enjoy talking about themselves and sharing their experiences. 

Once you make a connection, work to extend your network through that person. This new connection may help you extend your own network with people that might have similar interests/goals. 

Provide value. There are over 1 billion people on LinkedIn, so it is a crowded space. When you reach out to people, be sure that you are providing them with some type of value as it pertains to their work/interests. This could be as simple as sharing an article with a connection about the school/university that they attended or adding an insightful comment to a post that they shared. You can even ask them specifically about ways in which you might be able to help. By taking a genuine interest in them and trying to help others, they might take more of an interest in you when you are in search of help. 

Volunteering can be fruitful. This is a way to meet people at an entirely different level, for you are serving your community. Since you are volunteering at the same event, you already have some type of common interest in helping your community and you never know what doors people at these events might be able to open. 

Whether it is how we shake someone’s hand or the letterhead we select for personal letters, we are always branding ourselves, and it is important to identify what exactly our personal brand is when it comes to networking.

Be seen as someone that is going to add value to the workplace community. Companies and organizations are more likely to hire someone that will be a positive contributor to the work environment. 

Be comfortable with the personal information that you put out. Do you have to tell your entire life story? No, but if you enjoy running and going to the beach, don’t be afraid to put that in your online profile as it can open yourself up to more connections who enjoy similar activities. 

If you don’t brand yourself, someone else will for you! Be sure to conduct yourself in a way that you are proud of and that aligns with your goals and objectives, both in-person and online.

Be authentic and find your tribe. You should always––when volunteering, in meetings with colleagues, or at networking events––be yourself and share your interests. When you find people with similar interests, you will find it easier to connect with them and continue to expand your network through them. 

Consistently network. Even if you aren't actively looking for a job, build this into your weekly schedule as you never know what you might learn from someone else. And if you do end up in search of a new job or career change, you have a plethora of folks in your network to connect with. 

Networking includes helping others. Providing help without looking for anything in return is rewarding and an opportunity for others to see you as your best self. 

Being present will lead towards greater success. When you are in the process of networking and building connections, always be present and listen to what folks around you have to say. This will enable you to think of good follow-up questions, showing a genuine interest and allowing you to gain more insight on the topic at hand. 

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