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Networking in a professional setting is not unlike sending your friend a meme on Instagram, right? Wrong. Today’s edition of the RoadMap newsletter discusses how to successfully create deeper connections in a professional setting.

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It REALLY Net-Works!

Networking is a crucial skill to a successful career. It’s not dissimilar to meeting and creating a connection with new friends; it involves sincerity, and should be much more than small talk.

Research shows that people with highly-engaged professional networks end up with larger salaries and more promotions, but forging relationships takes effort. Below are some tips on how to build a stronger web of professional connections. 

Start with reconnecting with your dormant ties. 

Marissa King, a professor of Organizational Behavior at the Yale School of Management, advises to reconnect with your dormant ties. These are people you already know, but you haven’t seen or reached out to in a few years. 

Next, determine what you want to learn.

Focus on your value: How do you actually connect with someone more senior than you? Engage in conversation that goes further than schmoozing.

Instead of: What do you do?

Try: What do you think is the most interesting part of your work? What issues are you most passionate about?

Instead of: What is your current role?

Try: Which position provided you with the most valuable learning experiences? What roles led you to where you are today?

Instead of: What are your goals?

Try: What objectives are you focused on achieving in the this year? What drives your ambition and keeps you motivated?

Let’s Talk Tech

Do you want to get into the technology industry?

To start, educate yourself on target job opportunities by identifying the key players, influencers, organizations and trends that align with your career objectives. Make it your job to understand the field and all its components.

Below are some resources for that education: 

Publications to Follow:

• Websites and Magazines: TechCrunch, Wired, MIT Technology Review 

• Newsletters & Curators: Emerging Tech Brew, Techmeme

• Podcasts:  a16z podcast, TED Talks Technology 

• Social Media: LinkedIn - join groups like ‘Technology Professionals’

Gen Z News Update 

Gen Z & the Job Market

Gen Z stepped into the job market amidst challenges posed by the pandemic and the subsequent labor market conditions, which have been described as the ‘tightest since World War II’, according to a recent Federal report. 

Financial Insecurity and Future Outlook 

Unlike previous generations, Gen Z appears to have higher levels of doubt regarding financial stability. McKinsey’s ‘Spring Survey’ highlighted that they are less optimistic about the possibility of buying homes or retiring comfortably. 

Employer Outlook 

Despite these challenges, there’s a silver lining. An impressive 83% of employers are planning to increase hiring or maintain current hiring levels for the class of 2024, as reported by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. This suggests a growing demand for young talent in the workforce.