How to *Actually* Network to Grow Your Data Career

Author

Tristan Burns
September 12, 2024

READ TIME: 5 MINUTES

LinkedIn has ruined networking

Most people have no idea how to network. Ask people on the street and they’ll tell you that networking is about connecting with as many people as possible on LinkedIn.

Not only wrong, but also very stupid.

While LinkedIn is a valuable tool in your your networking activities, true networking is far more than a simple connection request.

Whether you’re looking for your next role, keen to grown your business or simply hoping to connect with influential and supportive people in your space, understanding how to network properly is a super power that can bring you tremendous value and LITERALLY change your life.

It has for me and it will for you - if you do it well.

Every job I’ve ever had came via my network.

Unfortunately, bad networking has become the norm. And bad networking is spammy, irritating, time wasting, and actually does more harm to your personal brand than helps it!!

Problem impact

Not networking at all is better than networking badly. Our ability to network is inextricably linked to our reputation. Not networking of course, has little to no impact on our reputations, while networking badly ruins them!

The number 1 thing people do wrong with networking is that they seek to extract value upfront, rather than offering and providing value up front.

Examples of asking for value up front include:

🔸 Asking people if they can help you land a job 🤦🏼‍♂️

🔸 Sending your CV to someone without being asked ❌

🔸 Asking someone to review your content or website 🙅🏽‍♀️

🔸 Asking someone to connect you with someone in their network 🙉 

The items above are perfectly fine to ask of people in your network once a solid relationship has been established between the two of you. A relationship though must consist of mutual respect, reciprocity, and a sharing of value in two directions.

When you ask your network to provide you with value without this shared sense of reciprocity, the following happens:

  • They feel taken advantage of

  • You irritate people and p*ss them off

  • You ruin your own reputation with others

  • You burn your bridge and lose your one chance with them

Networking done badly can have long lasting impacts, but done well, it can catapult your career into the stratosphere perhaps more than any other activity you might pursue.

Well, strap in because you’re about to blast off as I tell you how to actually network to grow your data career! 🚀

Ask not what your network can do for you, ask what you can do for your network - JFK 🫡

At the core of bad networking is this assumption that your network exists to help you.

It doesn’t. You exist to help your network!

It’s a simple mindset shift but once you realise this, your networking game will improve dramatically and forever.

Instead of walking into a room or logging on to LinkedIn and asking yourself, who here can help me, ask yourself, who here can I help?

Nothing comes for free. To get value, you must invest value. You reap what you sow. Same goes for networking.

But what does this actually mean? Let me give you some examples:

🔑 Curiosity: The easiest, simplest and least effort way to give someone value is to demonstrate curiosity in them.

Humans are simple creatures and we love nothing more than talking about ourselves. If you want to create a connection with someone, start by asking them relevant questions about themselves and their career.

Most people will enjoy sharing and will feel positive towards you for having asked. Eventually, they’ll turn their attention to you, and this will be your opportunity to tell them all about yourself and your objectives.

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🛠️ Solutions: Proactively set about solving people’s problems. When you engage with your network, there is one really powerful question you can ask people (both internally and externally): “What keeps you awake at night?” 

The answer to this question provides you with an opportunity to help solve their biggest fear. If you can’t solve that problem, but you know someone who can, then you have the chance to play a valuable role in networking: The Connector!

If you solve their problems, people will remember you forever, and you will be front of their mind when opportunity presents itself.

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🎁 Gift them your talents: If you want to impress someone in your network, do them a favour without them having to ask for it, and use it as an opportunity to showcase your skills.

If you’re a data analyst, do some analysis for them! Do a tear-down of their industry you think they might not have, or provide them with a competitor analysis you think they could use. You’ll blow their socks off! 🧦

Say this, “Hey Sarah, I’ve done a little analysis on the {insert industry} that I thought you might like. No need to reply, just thought you might find it useful”

Even if it isn’t that useful to them, they’ll never forget it.

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🕸️ Network Intelligently: Do not go after the biggest baddest connection you can find. Just because someone either has a large network or following doesn’t make them a better relationship for you to pursue. Besides, if you’re early on in your career or networking journey, you’re less likely going to be able to provide people like that with any value.

If they have a big following, your voice will easily be lost in the noise they navigate everyday. Their inbox is full and they don’t know you.

Instead, start strategically. Start with people you admire but for whom you can actually provide value.

The cool thing about intentional networking is that one relationship often leads to another. Keep this in mind and level up as you go!

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There, you now have the tools to become a pro-networker.

You can stop spamming your LinkedIn connections and start working towards a life-altering, infinitely powerful professional network.

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