If you are a job seeker or work with a professional association, you understand the importance of building relationships and growing your network to advance your career and the industry you work in. Given the current situation, job seekers must adapt to these changes and find new ways to network with other professionals in their field.
With some help from technology and professional associations, job seekers can seamlessly immerse themselves into a virtual networking world that fosters professional growth and advances the industry.
Here are 4 ways you can virtually grow your network by joining a professional association:
- Attend Virtual Events
- Join an Online Community
- Engage with Peers on Social Media
- Utilize Association Job Boards
Attend Virtual Events
重要的是要用有意义的连接构建网络，以保持最重要的是，当新的职位可用时，您的同伴会想到您并将您推荐您的工作。专家说70 – 85% of people由于网络发现他们当前的位置，因此可以安全地说与同龄人的建立关系可以在您的职业发展中发挥巨大作用。
Joining a professional association relieves the burden of finding networking opportunities since they host these kinds of events regularly and you can trust they will connect you with influential people. Perhaps one of the greatest benefits that comes from networking within a professional association is the ability to connect with peers from all over the world with diverse backgrounds in education and experience which offers a great way to gain different perspectives and improve your knowledge.
Here are some examples of virtual networking events professional associations might host:
- Annual association meetings
- Members-only happy hours
- Career Fairs
- Networking mixers
Join an Online Community
Online communities are an authentic space where professionals can communicate with one another (and association staff members) to share ideas, offer advice and foster relationships with other passionate industry professionals. Interactions on the platform can be anything from asking “help desk” related questions for association login problems, to sharing industry information and more.
Being active on an association’s online community will help build your network as you continue to engage with your peers and keep your name relevant within the community. Also, online communities are an easy way to find relevant virtual networking events that your peers are attending or events your association is hosting internally.
Engage with Peers on Social Media
Similar to an online community platform, social media networking on your associations page or other industry-related pages is an effective way to grow your network.
例如，如果您的关联具有LinkedIn页面，请考虑在其帖子中分享，评论和标记对方以开始社区内的对话。由于LinkedIn与他人相比更专业的社交网络媒体，因此它是与其他严肃的专业人士互动并将其添加到您的网络中的一个很棒的空间。此外，LinkedIn全部是关于添加连接，使其使其成为管理连接的更好位置并以骄傲为它们显示它们。
社交媒体有能力将您与世界各地的专业人士联系，并与您的协会以外的人联系。能够与您的直接网络圈以外的对等体（包括您的协会和雇佣地点）连接，使您能够访问补充信息和工作机会，而且还允许您将它们引用到您的协会，以便他们可以分享他们的丰富知识与同龄人的更大的受众。您可以通过遵循相关的HASHTAG或其他行业页面来进行这些连接，从评论这些帖子或创建自己的帖子以开始对话并逐步构建您的网络。
Utilize Association Job Boards
Association job boards make the job hunting and employer networking process easier for all professionals since you have direct access to industry-related jobs, better ways to search for those jobs, and can find jobs that are specific to sub professions and specialities. You can also trust that your association is providing quality employers that will meet your specifications and help you advance in your career. On the job board, you can create a job seeker profile that gives employers easy access to your resume, references, certifications and qualifications as they search for potential candidates. A job seeker profile can greatly expand your network with recruiters since they can easily view your profile and reach out to schedule interviews.
在虚拟职业公平期间的网络时，进入协会的职位委员会也会有所帮助。在活动之前，您可以浏览正在参加的雇主，在雇主页面上查看他们的开放职位，并在网上与招聘人员联系，如果他们的公司和位置适合您的需求。一些虚拟职业公平平台甚至提供联系雇主的选择，提前安排采访！参加职业博览会的雇主将有选择查看您的求职者个人资料并向您联系您的面试，使您可以轻松发展您的网络。
