Smart Ways of Networking
Networking – that’s tomorrow’s problem, right? Student life is about lessons, lectures, exams (and maybe a little social life). Putting yourself “out there” can surely wait until after graduation? Wrong. You really cannot start too early when it comes to making connections and marketing yourself – and, while you are sat looking at your phone, your fellow students are stealing a march on you. Today’s classmates may be tomorrow’s rivals, and the time to start forging your career path is right now.
A fundamental skill
Property is a hugely social industry – it runs on breakfasts, lunches, dinners, seminars, awards ceremonies, skiing trips, triathlons and the networking fiesta that is MIPIM.
As a result, making connections is “fundamental” to career building, according to angel investor and former Matterport EMEA managing director James Morris-Manuel. He recommends seeking events built around panel discussions and keynote speeches in an area that interests you, where the room will be filled with potentially useful contacts.
“You know what people say: surround yourself with people who are smarter than you,” he says. “One of the most important things for anyone’s career is that they continue to learn, and networking events are a great way to speak to like-minded individuals and learn from their experiences and stories.”
They also offer access to senior figures who are very “time-poor”. He adds: “Chief executives who don’t have time to have a call with somebody one-on-one would have a five-minute conversation with you over a cup of tea at a networking event.”
This will help you build your market knowledge, which Morris-Manuel says is vital to display to potential employers.
Networking in person
Making that first step – walking into a room of strangers, eager to make a good impression – can be daunting, particularly if you are a natural introvert. But it is important to remember that everyone there has been in the same boat, and there are things you can do to make it less daunting.
First, arrive early; it is easier to mingle when there are fewer people around.
Do your research – find out who guests are, and be prepared with topics and questions about their jobs and their wider interests. Finding shared experiences outside the world of property can be a good way of standing out.
If you see someone else on their own, approach them to talk. That will be easier at first, until you build your confidence in introducing yourself to a group. When it comes to talking about yourself, have answers for the basics already in mind. If you are caught on the hop and left stumbling, you will not present the message that you are someone they need to know.
Nicky Richmond, career development coach at Nicky Richmond Coaching, stresses the need to “understand your own personality” before you work out which sort of self-marketing is best for you. She says: “I always suggest that people take the Myers-Briggs test, which you can find online. It helps you work out your strengths and weaknesses, and look at how you interact with other people.”
Richmond trains people to create their own marketing plan. “What you are doing is creating your own personal brand, your own personality,” she adds. “You need to understand who you are and what you are selling.”
Networking online
Increasingly, that strategy must incorporate an online profile, for instance on LinkedIn, which is your “shop window” for job-hunting, according to Nick Carman, partnership director at recruitment consultant Macdonald & Company.
As a result, your profile has to “look smart”, with a great photo, and detail on your skills, experience and achievements, including “buzzwords and phrases that you think someone might be looking for”.
Beyond an impressive profile, it is important to get involved. “As the name suggests, LinkedIn is a network,” Carman adds. “If you’re not participating, you’re falling below more active users.”
He recommends use of the follow button as a way of making connections with important people – maybe someone who runs the organisation you would dream of working for.
“Once you follow them, their content, their information and what they are talking about starts appearing on your feed,” Carman says. “It gives you an opportunity then to chip in, and spark up a conversation. It’s informal, it’s quite social and it’s similar to a normal conversation in the real world.”
Whether online or in person, if you put in the effort and practice required, networking can play a key part in getting you where you want to go.
@jessharrold jess.harrold@eg.co.uk
Networking with the Future Leaders
We asked some of EG’s 2023 crop of Future Leaders for their top networking tips. Now in its sixth year, the Future Leaders programme showcases some of the best and brightest the industry has to offer.
n You are not on your own “Networking events can be daunting if you are in an environment you are unfamiliar with. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone and that most people there also feel awkward and self-conscious. Walking in with a ‘plan’ of how to spark conversations is a good way to navigate around the initial fear. I would do this through introducing myself first, and then inviting the individual/group to talk about themselves, as this can help to bring down the barriers.” – Lucia Sanderson, apprentice surveyor, CBRE
n Do not be afraid to start small “The big networking events can be overwhelming and often not very relevant to people just starting out (as well as expensive to attend). I would suggest people work with the contacts they have, no matter how small the pool. Ask those contacts to recommend people, perhaps reach out on an individual basis to have a one-on-one meeting for coffee and take things from there. This inevitably means being more focused, and doing more research, but that will pay off when the person you connect with can see you have a genuine interest in what they do.” – Alix Murtha, senior associate, Clyde & Co
n Harness the power of alumni networking “Staying connected with your school and university’s alumni network is a powerful networking strategy. Many universities have dedicated alumni portals that allow you to explore and connect with alumni who share similar backgrounds and interests. Take advantage of this resource to identify individuals who can offer valuable career advice, guidance, or even potential job opportunities.” – So Sum Lee, consultant, Inner Circle Consulting
n Forge connections beyond your circle “Overcome the fear of reaching out to new people in your industry and leverage platforms like LinkedIn to make meaningful connections. Networking can sometimes feel intimidating, especially when reaching out to individuals you have not interacted with before. However, overcoming this fear is crucial. Proactive outreach, coupled with a clear request for advice or guidance, is often met with enthusiasm as people are generally happy to offer their support and insights.” – So Sum Lee
