What do you do if your networking skills are holding you back in Recruiting?

Here are steps you can take to improve: Identify Areas for Improvement: Reflect on your networking experiences and identify specific areas where you feel less confident or effective. Set Clear Goals: Define specific networking goals, such as the number of new contacts to make each month or the number of industry events to attend. Having clear objectives can provide focus and motivation. Practice Active Listening: Focus on listening attentively to others during networking conversations. Ask open-ended questions to show genuine interest in their experiences and perspectives. Build Confidence: Work on building your confidence by practicing networking in low-pressure settings, such as networking events or meetings with colleagues.

Self-awareness is crucial for growth, especially when it comes to networking skills. Taking a hard look at your networking abilities involves introspection and honest evaluation. Here are some specific areas you might consider when assessing your networking skills: • Comfort in Social Settings • Initiating Conversations • Active Listening • Follow-Up • Networking Goals • Networking Platforms By taking a hard look at these specific areas, you can gain valuable insights into your networking strengths and weaknesses. From there, you can develop a targeted strategy to enhance your networking prowess, whether it involves practicing social skills, improving follow-up habits, or refining your networking approach overall.

If networking skills are hindering your recruiting efforts, focus on improving interpersonal communication, relationship building, and industry engagement. Attend networking events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and seek mentorship. Practice active listening and genuine engagement to build meaningful connections. Utilize resources like workshops or online courses to enhance networking abilities and gain confidence in professional interactions.

Enrolling in workshops or courses focused on interpersonal communication, professional networking, or public speaking can be incredibly beneficial for refining networking skills. These educational opportunities offer structured learning environments where you can gain valuable insights, receive feedback, & practice techniques that enhance your networking prowess. Here's how such workshops or courses can help: • Learning from Experts • Practical Techniques • Feedback & Guidance • Boosting Confidence • Networking Opportunities • Continuous Improvement

Practice is key to improving any skill, including networking. Actively seeking out opportunities to practice your networking skills in real-world settings can significantly enhance your abilities and confidence. Here's how you can leverage events and professional groups to practice networking: • Industry Events • Networking Groups • Online Communities • Volunteer Opportunities • Informational Interviews • Follow-Up and Maintain Connections Remember, networking is a skill that improves with practice and persistence. Each interaction presents an opportunity to learn, grow, and refine your approach, so don't be afraid to put yourself out there and seize every networking opportunity that comes your way.

LinkedIn Courses are great to help build your confidence and speaking skills. Organise a social meet up with your close colleagues gets some tips from them. Potentially bring a person with you to the event if it will help make you feel more comfortable in a new environment. See how they engage in conversation and take down any notes from them and others.

Looking back on my recruiting journey, I've faced challenges with networking skills. Instead of seeing it as a problem, I saw it as a chance to get better. First I figured out what I needed to work on like talking to people or making connections. Then I asked for help from people who knew more than me, went to events and used social media. I also focused on helping others not just what I could get from them. Being myself was important too; people liked that better than me trying to be someone I'm not. As I got better at networking, it helped me find more job opportunities and meet new people. So instead of seeing networking as a problem, I turned it into something that helped me grow in recruiting.

Here are some question I learned to ask to support my networking, especially when moving to a new country. 1. With your experience, what would you recommend my next step to be? 2. Would you be able to give me pointers on my cover letter? Can you see any skills I am lacking? 3. Who would you recommend I speak to? As one of the I LIKE NETWORKING mentors says, ask for advice and you will be given a job.