If you are reading this you have probably heard the phrase "it's not what you know but who you know". As someone who is trying to break into the world of sports, this phrase has become increasingly true. I found out recently that an internship I applied to cut down its acceptances to three people. The problem with that is, as I learned a month or so after not getting it, one of those spots went to someone whose sister went to high school with the guy who runs the program, and another spot was reserved only for a graduate student. That means that the 20 or so of us who applied to that job were fighting for one spot and not three as we had previously thought. The point of that story is that one person got the job simply because their sister knew the guy running the program. It's not what you know, but who you know. That phrase rang so true after hearing about this process. So, how do you turn that phrase into an advantage for you in the future?
One key aspect of networking is putting yourself out there. That is not the easiest task for people and even as someone who prides themselves on being gregarious and extraverted, I struggle with this as well. But putting yourself out there to engage with people and add them to your network goes a long way. If you think you are the only one who does not want to put yourself out there you are wrong. If you make the effort to try and connect with people it will go a long way and they will remember you and want to help you in the future. So, that person that you talked to at a conference or just randomly at a job could help you one day because you made the effort to connect.
Another key to networking is to not just network with as many people as possible. You want to have quality relationships over a vast amount of relationships. The deeper a relationship you have with someone, the more likely that person will become an asset for you down the road. In general, you would rather have a deep and genuine relationship with one person, than have meaningless tangential relationships with ten people. The quality of the relationship will determine down the road how valuable a connection they are.
Maybe one day you talk to this connection in your network and you mention struggling to find a good job or that you need help with your resume. If they are truly a good connection, they may offer up someone in their own network to help or even have a solution for you off the top of their head. Keeping in contact with some of your connections and having meaningful conversations and time together is critical to networking. Building a strong network could be key to your next professional success. So get out there and make connections!
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