How to network without even leaving your home.
How to adapt your networking skills and advance your career in the age of coronavirus.
WE MAY STILL BE WRESTLING with the realization that remote work will continue for many professional workplaces until at least early 2021, but it’s becoming clear that the pandemic-induced collective experiment with mass teleworking is going to have much-longer-term impacts. Case in point: Tech companies like Shopify and Twitter have already announced plans to become “digital by default” permanently. So, suddenly, the question on the mind of every ambitious professional is: How can I manage to forge connections in between endless Zoom calls?
Well, whether you need to grow your profile or you’re actively job searching, networking in these strange times requires a flexible mindset and a dash of resourceful thinking. “Now is the time to be really creative,” says Catherine Chang, a Toronto-based career coach. “These are new times for everybody.” For instance, it’s never been easier to explore gigs in other cities. “The big thing about networking during COVID-19 is that geography doesn’t matter,” says Chang, explaining that one of her Calgary-based clients recently landed a job in Toronto after looking at opportunities in Vancouver too. “She networked in both places without all of that travel time.”
There’s another unexpected upside: Although some of the organic, casual networking opportunities may be off the table—we’re looking at you, coffee dates and chance meetings at industry events—many senior leaders and executives are actually more available for a chat than they were before the pandemic. “They are at home and have a bit more time on their hands, given that they are not travelling,” says Beatrix Dart, a professor of strategic management and the executive director of Initiative for Women in Business at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. “And most of them are open to actually having virtual connections.” Just don’t start asking new contacts for favours right away; instead, get their insight on, say, what they see as emerging trends or new industry opportunities. “If you’re putting pressure or responsibility on people right away, they will feel taken aback,” says Dart. “Networking should be something you do before you need something from that person.”
And while you won’t be picking up a swag bag from a conference anytime soon, there are scores of online webinars, workshops, panel conversations and events—advertised in industry newsletters as well as on sites like LinkedIn and Eventbrite—that can be useful if you approach them strategically. Many are free, so you can attend with low-stakes expectations, and some even include virtual breakout rooms that offer opportunities for more intimate networking. And whether there are 10 or 1,000 attendees, the key is to use the virtual event as an incentive to connect directly with speakers and panellists afterwards. “Follow up,” advises Chang. “Send that email that says ‘I really loved what you said about X’ or ‘This really resonated with me.’”
And before you start putting effort into outreach, make sure your Google results and website (if you have one) reflect the image you want to project and demonstrate expertise or interest in your industry at large. With the recruiting process happening virtually these days, you only get to make a first impression digitally. “Find a topic or a group that you find interesting and participate in the conversation,” suggests Dart—even if it’s simply sharing links to articles that are curious or surprising—“so that your name is out there.” It helps, too, to reference what you learn so that you can organically connect with others in your field. If someone noteworthy comments on a post you’ve shared, consider following up with them directly to connect further and start a more detailed conversation. Dart also recommends asking at least one question during any online conferences or webinars. “If you are just quietly in the background, nobody will notice you,” she says. Chang agrees: “You have to think ‘How do I bring intention to my connections at work?’”