Most often than not, it’s the people we’re with that make a situation good or bad. Whether you are traveling, studying, or working, sharing the experience with friendly ones makes it all better. That’s why networking is so important, we need connections to create a rich, interesting, and thriving career. With so many of us working from home how can we meet people? Here are some tips on remote networking.
Find yourself a mentor
Writer Lauren Bailey finds mentorship to be a powerful way to connect with people. In her blog she lists a few ways you can get started with a mentor:
- You schedule EVERYTHING and do all the lifting – follow-up emails, agendas, reschedules, video links… you get it.
- Learn her or his story first and ask 1-2 advice questions that relate to their journey. Then explain your goals and dreams and what you hope to accomplish together.
- Go-forward meetings, and be ready with questions, scenarios, needs, etc.
- NEVER miss, be late, cancel last minute, or no-show.
Connecting remotely
Varpu Rusila is a mentor herself and a consultant who helps people moving to her native Finland. Moving abroad surely increases our need to network, right? Even if you’re not relocating to the Nordic country at the moment, her tips will help you find new connections anywhere:
- Look up the people already working in the position you hope to achieve – LinkedIn can be a great tool to find and connect with people of interest.
- Attend events organized by your industry and events organized by the companies you are interested in – For remote times, these may be virtual.
- In online events, actively take part and ask questions. You can also send LinkedIn invitations to other participants with personalized notes.
- Make every speaker and panelist a part of your network.
- Keep a positive attitude – It makes people more likely to want to associate with you and help you by giving advice.
- Get involved in activities that might eventually bring job opportunities and introduce you to the right people – A mentor helps, but you can also take part in organizing events, participating in NGOs in your field of work, or helping students (speaking in classes or being a mentor yourself, for example).
Networking outside of work
When we work from home we have to make time for social activities. Attending conferences, taking classes, or swinging by professional events sure work, but you can add some fun to networking too.
Varpu says leisure can be a crucial part of getting to know people. She suggests investing in your hobbies, playing sports, or being active in your children’s school community. Volunteering is also a great way to get out of the house, do some good, and meet new people in the process.
Connect with us
Our platform gathers 400k fantastic tech talents. Although it’s probably unlikely that you will meet all our members for coffee one day, we think you will have great conversations with like-minded people. Have you tried our exclusive Slack group?
VanHackers also get to participate in conferences, webinars, and hiring events. So keep an eye on our calendar and don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with us. See you around!
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🌎 VANHACK, LinkedIn Talent Awards Winner 2021, is Canada’s most respected recruitment company. With more than 1,500 hires, VanHack is on a mission of increasing diversity and creating a borderless world. So if you are a software developer looking for a job abroad, in Canada, the US, or Europe, join VanHack today. 100% free for candidates, plus you will get all the preparation you need when your profile is shortlisted.
Visit our platform to become one of our many VanHackers hired abroad 😃
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