The Top Reason You Should Network When You Have a Job

Myth: Networking is just for job seekers.

Fact: When you have a job, networking can be more valuable.

Almost all jobs are filled through networking connections nowadays (Seriously! It was 85% from 2015-2016.), so it makes sense why job seekers attend events and put a great deal of effort into making connections. But what happens when you have a job? All of the events you used to go to trickle off and the time you spend searching LinkedIn is replaced by Netflix binges. You tell yourself "it's just a little break;" then weeks become months or maybe years before you set foot in another event.

Here's the thing – networking is all about helping other people. Read on for 5 ways you can help.

1. Knowledge: Even if you don't always know what you're doing at your job, your employer probably hired you because you know what you're talking about. You're an expert in something! And if it's not your actual job that you have expertise in, you probably have another skill, whether that's photography, physics, proofreading, or playing cards.
2. Connections: For those of us who have awesome co-workers, you can introduce any networking connections you make to them. That networking connection might even become your next co-worker. Even when the people you meet don't have similar interests to your co-workers, your network is bound to be big when you're consistently attending events, so you'll have the chance to give someone a connection that might turn into a valuable business relationship for them.
3. Side Hustles: You never know who you're going to meet when you're networking. The person you're talking to could be wildly talented, and maybe during your chat, you two come up with a project to do together. This not only helps them grow, but it helps you broaden your skill set as well.
4. Confidence: Always compliment people you meet early and frequently. Although an initial compliment might be about the way a person looks or the fact you like something they're wearing – a comment about a cool tie or a nice blazer – move away from superficiality as quickly as possible. Meaghan Ramsey talks about the critical nature of commenting on people's abilities rather than their appearances; it's staggering to think that "17% of women wouldn't show up to a job interview on a day when they weren't feeling confident about the way they looked." You could be the person who boosts someone else's confidence which in turn could get them a job and, consequently, boost the economy (even if it's in a small way).
5. Mentorship: This is another type of help that benefits you, too. The most effective mentorships are the relationships in which both parties learn from each other. When you've built up the knowledge and connections in your industry, you can pay it forward. Mentor someone you met through networking or maybe a co-worker; you can even branch out to mentorship programs like College Now (local - Cleveland) or Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

So, step away from Netflix for a minute and consider going to a networking event. If you just got a job and are in the adjustment phase, you might not be ready to get back out there, and that's okay. Consider spending an hour reaching out to the connections you've made over the years or cold e-mailing people you admire. You never know who you'll be able to help.