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By Nikki MacCallum
Networking internally within your current place of employment is one of the best things you can do to set your career up for success. Not only is it one of the most accessible forms of networking but it can also be one of the most impactful. The primary reason it’s more accessible than external networking is because you already have obvious common ground with the person with whom you’re trying to network. You both work for the same company. A mentor gave me a great piece of advice when it comes to building connections, “start with the known to get to the unknown.”
The reason networking internally can be so impactful is because it gains you visibility, credibility, and as a result, opportunities within your current organization. It can lead to multiple avenues that might help round out your skillset, which can lead to advancement down the road. Also, it’s important to remember that individuals don’t stay at the same company forever. You may form a strong relationship with a co-worker who may one day move on to work at a different company. That person then becomes an external contact and may be able to help you get a job elsewhere down the road. Depending upon your company culture, having relationships across multiple departments is also helpful in the event you one day want to transfer to a different department. The more your colleagues understand what you do as well as your aspirations, the better chance you have of someone presenting you with an opportunity.
To be clear, opportunities come in many different shapes and sizes. They do not necessarily equate to a new job or position. This is important to remember because a lot of individuals seem to hesitate to share their career aspirations with a manager or peer out of fear that it will create the illusion that they’re looking to change jobs. While an opportunity certainly can be a new position, it can also be a big initiative or project that can gain you visibility within your organization. The more people know about who you are and what you’re doing, the more they will think of you and ask you to do it.
This blog will discuss six ways to effectively network across your current organization.
Building relationships with upper management by asking for 1:1s, asking advice from folks on other teams, getting involved in extracurricular activities or clubs, telling your peers when they’ve done a good job, letting others know what you’re working on, and directly reaching out to individuals whom you’ve not met are six simple ways to get you started networking across your current organization. The more connections you have, the more doors will open for you down the road, even if you can’t see them now let alone fathom what they may be.
If you have questions about this blog article or want to chat about the concept further, please feel free to reach out to me at NMacCallum@lighthouseglobal.com.
Nikki MacCallum brings over thirteen years of experience in the executive search space with a focus on litigation technology and eDiscovery. She’s spoken on panels and at conferences nation-wide (ABC News, Women in eDiscovery, LegalTech, CALSM, ARIAS) and was recently the key note speaker for a global Career Panel Workshop at American Express. Nikki is also a resident speaker at New York City’s Coalition for the Homeless where she privately mentors underprivileged women looking to re-enter the workforce.
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