What will it take to reach the next level in your career? Crafting a stellar resume. Writing a thoughtful cover letter that lists your accomplishments and demonstrates a passion for your prospective company's work. Acing that interview.
Yes, these are all critical to landing your next role. At the end of the day, however, there is another piece of the job seeking puzzle that will not only help you get your foot in the door, but also advance your career: your relationships. The people you create meaningful connections with will provide you with references, help open doors and, not to mention, offer candid feedback that you may need to hear.
Whether it's with a mentor, former boss or current colleague, the time and energy invested in developing and nurturing these relationships will be well spent.
Your number one strategy for fostering valuable professional relationships should be spending face time with the people with whom you currently work and previously worked. There's simply no substitute for real conversations, sitting across from someone at a table, a firm handshake and good old-fashioned eye contact. This can seem like a challenge in today's tech-focused world, but it's easier than you think. Here's how you can effectively create substantial professional connections:
1. Limit distractions. Technology has no doubt improved our lives and made a lot of things easier, but in some ways, it's made us lazy. We text people instead of talking. We make introductions via Twitter instead of meeting up for coffee. The next time you make plans to spend time outside of the office with a co-worker, even if it's just an hour out of your day, put in the effort to make the most out of that time together. That means meeting face-to-face, and resisting the urge to check your phone while you're together.
2. Practice listening. Your communications skills are incredibly important during an interview, as well as on the job. As you're working on your professional relationships -- with anyone from your former boss to your current manager or peers -- take advantage of these opportunities to practice your listening skills. Create space for them to speak and pay attention to what they say -- they'll notice that you did.
3. Create a follow up system. Whether it's jotting down notes in your phone, setting up reminders in your Outlook calendar or creating a spreadsheet to keep track of who you've reached out to, develop automated systems that remind you to follow-up. This is especially important when you're building new relationships. That stack of business cards serves no purpose if it's just sitting idle on your desk. Make the most of those initial touch points by following up to schedule time to talk, preferably in person (or if they're at a distance, on the phone or Skype).
4. Make it a habit. As you develop a system for seamlessly incorporating relationship building into your routine, also schedule regular meeting times with your manager or a colleague so that meeting in-person becomes a habit. Even if the purpose is simply to get to know someone better, more time face-to-face will help meeting in-person become second nature to you.
5. Enjoy it and get to know them! Your most meaningful connections will be with people that not only respect you as a professional, but like what makes you unique. Chances are, they'll be more likely to recommend you for a new job or provide a glowing reference if they're personally vested in you. It's that real and memorable connection that creates a foundation to build upon. Really take the time to connect and your professional relationships will bloom.