Reach out. To be able to network, you have to reach out; there are many ways to do this both online and in-person. One of the easiest ways to reach out is to join professional social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, and look for people in your industry or who share your interest. Join groups, both online and in-person; professional groups and associations, groups which promote skills you want to develop such as Toastmasters, and groups that work for causes you value are all good choices. No matter what you choose as a method of meeting people, the key part of networking is to talk to people. Approach people and start a conversation, and cultivate a presence that makes you approachable. Be responsive when people contact you via email or phone. Make time in your schedule each week to work on networking. Schedule it as you would any other important task. Use your soft skills, listening actively, projecting self-confidence, building others up as you network.
