5 top tips

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Joe Craig's 5 Top Tips for networking

You’re there to connect, not to transact. So think about how you can help someone, not what you can sell them.
Pretend you’re the host. It can give you a more confident, calm energy if you imagine everyone else is only there because you invited them, or your friends brought them.
Join a conversation with, ‘Mind if I join you?’ – it’s simple and nobody ever actually minds if you join them.
You don’t need an excuse to move on. Find your own version of, ‘It’s been great talking to you, let’s catch up again soon.’
If you see a queue, join it, turn round and say hello.

Make sure you have an up to date and appropriate profile picture that looks like you. Stay away from long-distance shots.
Update your headline with information about you, what makes you tick, what are you passionate about.
Grow your network – follow up meetings and conversations with LinkedIn connection request.
Engage with content – Share relevant content and add comments. If you are actively engaging with LinkedIn you are also actively promoting yourself.
Follow industry influencers for a range of interesting content in your feed, this can also add value to your day to day role.

Do your research – what is the market rate for your role, experience and location?
Know your worth – what skills, experience and results do you bring to the role, and why is this worth something. Use real examples to support your case.
Ask at the right time – when to negotiate is key. You can do this before you accept a role or at regular checkpoints/reviews throughout the year.
Practice what you want to say – run through what you want to say, and how you will say it. Practicing out loud will help your confidence when it comes to the real discussion.
Be ready for challenge – consider what you might say if your employer declines/defers your request. Ask if there is anything you can do which will lead to a positive result in future negotiations.

Create a ‘to do’ list – you can achieve more if you know what’s on your list.
Use the 2-minute rule – can you do the task in less than two minutes? If so – do it!
Block out your calendar – book out time with yourself for your tasks. This can be anything from tasks to do, time to prepare for meetings or even blocking out lunch so you have chance to eat.
Don’t forget IT – you can set reminders for tasks in outlook or via teams.
Regular breaks – work smarter, not longer. Breaks will improve your focus and output and make sure you avoid burnout.

Find a mentor – a mentor can be a senior colleague or manager in your workplace, or someone in the industry. NextGen has a free mentoring programme – finds out more here
Seek feedback – the best way to grow your skills is to understand what you are already good at, what you are great at, and where you might need support.
Focus – you can get overwhelmed trying to do everything at once. Pick one area you want to develop and focus on that first.
Be curious – attend professional events, webinars and read articles. You’ll automatically expand your knowledge, and networks while developing your skill set.
Practice– to become great at anything you need to practice, the more you practice something, the better you will become at it.

Take 5 – to help with your wellbeing you need to make sure you take regular breaks. Breaks will improve your focus and output and make sure you avoid burnout.
Connections –Be sure to cultivate relationships in work (and at home) to maintain your mental health. This is particularly important if you work at home alone.
Communicate with your manager– speak up about any concerns, workloads or when you need support.
Comfortable workspace – Make sure your work environment is comfortable and calm.
Celebrate – be sure to acknowledge your progress and celebrate when you achieve something.

Get the pitch right – Prepare your presentation based on the audience. What do they need to know?
Keep your messaging simple – don’t over complicate it. What’s the key take away?
Slow down – don’t be afraid to talk at a slower pace than usual. You want to give people time to think about what you are presenting.
Practice – You will feel more confident in the content if you practice aloud.
Practice – this can’t be stressed enough. Practicing is key to effective presenting.

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