Networking - What Are The Benefits?
Humans, by our very nature, like to interact with others. Networking has been around, well, since forever. The term ‘networking’ doesn’t just cover professional environments, we network all the time, with our family, friends, peers, colleagues and so on. Sometimes, networking can have a reputation for being used as a selling tool, which in professional environments, it can work extremely well as one. For Executive Network Group, networking means more than just ‘selling’. It’s building long-lasting relationships and maintaining a positive reputation with the people in our networks.
So why do we network?
Primarily as humans, it’s to enrich our lives, increase potential opportunities and meet new people. For me personally, I really enjoy meeting new people. I’m interested in hearing about different people’s experiences and getting inspiration from others. Professionally, I’m always keen to learn more about different markets, hearing others’ professional opinions and what influences their businesses.
Learning and growing is one of the main benefits of networking. You may think you know absolutely everything about a specific topic, until you meet someone who knows different things to you. By increasing your network with likeminded individuals and exchanging information, it allows your knowledge to flourish. It results in a mutually beneficial relationship between you and your peers which can in turn lead to further opportunities.
Networking can lead you to discover a plethora of information you previously didn’t have access to. Another factor humans thrive by is talking about their experiences. In a stagnant situation where everyone has the same experiences or knowledge, there is no room for growth. If you continuously network with others in the same environments, the information will naturally expand and will give everyone space to share their experiences.
There are so many benefits to networking – particularly with those in a similar professional environment to you. Executive Network Group has a wealth of experience like no other recruitment sector-specialists, which can lead to a mutually beneficial professional relationship which ultimately will result in a growing network of likeminded peers.
In a post Covid-19 world, networking is more important than ever. Between June and August 2020, the redundancy rates increased to 8.2 per 1000 from 3.8 per 1000 from December 2019 – February 2020. (1)
With redundancies continuing to rise, having a strong network is one of the best preparation tools for seeking employment, even if it’s as simple as knowing somebody who can give expertise on interview skills, right up to knowing the hiring manager of your potential next company.
Why should you network with us?
We have decades of experience in various sectors including Procurement, HR, Health, Safety & Environment, Facilities Management and Construction. We are truly sector specialists with a wide array of clients, contacts and partners.
A common phrase is “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” – of course sector knowledge is imperative in the industries Executive Network Group work with, but knowing people in the right places can certainly elevate future opportunities. 80% of professionals believe that career success can be elevated through professional networking. (2) We pride ourselves on building and maintaining strong, long-lasting relationships with both clients and senior candidates, which allows us to make a real impact when it comes to the recruitment journey.
Executive Network Group has exclusive partnerships with Winmark’s CPO and CHRO peer to peer learning forum which offers our C-Suite community an opportunity to learn and engage with their peers in private discussions that are transforming their business environment. This alliance also strengthens our widely acclaimed market research capability which provides our leadership group with intelligence and perspective.
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/redundancies/timeseries/beir/lms
- https://news.linkedin.com/2017/6/eighty-percent-of-professionals-consider-networking-important-to-career-success
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