Tips for Curating a Professional Network

You don’t need to attend awkward networking events to build connections. Here are 10 ways to network online (from your couch) to land your dream job, mentorship or just to stay in touch: 1. Start with warm calls, not cold DMs Reaching out to strangers is intimidating. So, begin with people you already admire or respect: past colleagues, old classmates, mentors, or anyone you’ve gotten value from. Reach out, share your goals, ask for advice, or simply reconnect. — 2. Build (or join) a 3-6 person mastermind Invite people you admire to check in monthly or quarterly. Ask 3 simple questions in each meeting: • What’s your biggest win? • What’s your biggest challenge? • How can we help each other? This becomes your personal board of advisors, and their networks become yours, too. — 3. Make intros within your own network Instead of always trying to add new people, try connecting two people you already know. It builds goodwill, and often sparks reciprocity. Some of my best opportunities came from introductions I made first. — 4. Be the tortoise, not the hare Strong networks aren’t built in a week. They come from consistency, trust, and staying top of mind. Check in. Celebrate small wins. Be helpful, even without asking for anything.  — 5. Send snail mail Want to stand out in a sea of LinkedIn messages? Send a handwritten card or even a fun comic with a note. The person will always remember your “extra” effort. — 6. Elevate the interaction • Only chatted with someone online? Try a call. • Had a few calls? Try a Zoom meeting. • Know them over Zoom? Meet up in person. Each upgrade strengthens the connection. — 7. Pick one platform to dominate Instead of being everywhere, go deep somewhere. For example, if it’s LinkedIn: • Endorse people • Write thoughtful comments • Share niche insights your network actually values   This depth pays off more than shallow visibility. — 8. Curate, don’t just connect Curate the best insights, tools, or articles in your niche, and share them regularly. You’ll become a trusted source people keep coming back or referring to. — 9. Do something fun together Shared activities build bonds. This could be as simple as playing a game, joining a sweepstakes, or co-hosting a webinar.  People remember who made them feel something. — 10. Swipe right (yes, really) Apps like Shapr or Invitly are designed for warm outreach — you match with people who want to meet others. It’s cold networking without the awkwardness. Networking isn’t about pitching. It’s about planting seeds. Start with one person. Reach out. Reconnect.  Then keep showing up, helping others, and making connections that count.

Most professionals wait until they need a job to start networking. But by then, it feels forced, rushed, and honestly… a little desperate. Here’s the truth: Networking is not about asking for favors. It’s about building genuine relationships before you need them. If you’re trying to shift roles, grow into leadership, or feel stuck where you are, start here: 1. Connect with intention. Reach out to people in roles, industries, or companies that interest you. Not to ask for a job, but to understand how they got there. 2. Make it easy for them to respond. Send a short, clear message. Let them know why you admire their path and ask for 10–15 minutes to learn from their experience. 3. Lead with curiosity, not need. The best conversations happen when you’re genuinely interested—not just looking for an opening. 4. Stay in touch. A thank-you note, an article they might like, a quick update on your progress—relationships grow through consistency, not one-offs. 5. Give before you ask. Share insights, offer help, or simply support their work. Thoughtful connection builds long-term trust. Networking isn’t about being extroverted or strategic all the time. It’s about being present. Showing up. And remembering that people open doors for those they remember for the right reasons. If you’re waiting for the perfect time to start, this is it.

As an HR professional, I’m often asked about networking and how to approach it effectively. Networking is not just about meeting people—it’s a powerful tool for personal development, continuous learning, and fostering meaningful connections. When done thoughtfully, it opens doors to new opportunities and helps you grow both personally and professionally. Here are three essential tips for successful networking: 1. Be Intentional * Set clear goals: Are you looking for mentorship, exploring new industries, or expanding your support network? Focus on quality not quantity. * Do your homework: Research attendees or speakers in advance and prepare thoughtful questions or talking points to guide your conversations. 2. Lead with Value * Networking is about building relationships, not just seeking personal gain. Shift your focus to “How can I help?” * Look for opportunities to support others—whether by sharing insights, offering resources, or making introductions that could be beneficial. 3. Keep the Connection Alive * After an event or meeting, follow up with a personalized message that references your conversation. * Maintain the relationship by staying in touch over time—share articles, updates, or simply check in to show you value the connection. Conversation Starters Consider these to spark engaging conversations: * "What’s the most exciting part of your current role or project?" * "What inspired you to attend this event today?" * "What’s a professional trend or topic you’re really interested in right now?" And one last tip: Put your phone down! Being fully present shows respect and builds deeper connections. What are your go-to networking strategies? I’d love to hear your thoughts! #Networking #Development #GrowthMindset

Your Network Is Only as Strong as the Relationships You Nurture Your network isn’t just about who you know—it’s about who knows you and remembers you. We spend years building connections, attending events, and adding new contacts. But what happens after that initial handshake or LinkedIn request? If we’re not maintaining those relationships, we’re missing out on the true power of networking. The value of your network isn’t in its size—it’s in the strength of the relationships you cultivate. A dormant network is like an untended garden; without care, it withers. The strongest networks thrive because they are continuously nurtured, not just when someone needs a favor. The Cost of Neglecting Your Network Think about the last time you reached out to someone in your network. Was it because you needed something? Too often, we make the mistake of only reconnecting when we need a job referral, advice, or an introduction. The problem? If you haven’t kept in touch, that request feels transactional rather than relational. Strong networks are built on trust, and trust is built over time. When you stay engaged with your connections, you create a foundation where support flows naturally—both ways. Instead of scrambling to reconnect when you need help, imagine having a network that actively thinks of you for opportunities, shares valuable insights, and supports your growth. How to Keep Your Network Active Maintaining your network doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Small, intentional actions can make a big impact: 🔹 Check in regularly – A quick message, comment, or coffee chat can strengthen relationships. A simple “How have you been?” can open doors to deeper conversations. 🔹 Give before you ask – Share opportunities, offer insights, and help others without expecting immediate returns. Generosity builds goodwill. 🔹 Celebrate others – Congratulate promotions, acknowledge achievements, and engage with their content. Being genuinely happy for others fosters mutual respect. 🔹 Stay visible and engaged – Comment on posts, share your thoughts, and be part of industry conversations. A consistent presence keeps you top of mind. 🔹 Reconnect intentionally – Set reminders to follow up with key people. Even a brief “I saw this article and thought of you” can reignite a connection. Your Future Self Will Thank You The best time to build a network was years ago. The second-best time? Today. Relationships compound over time, and the people you invest in now could become your greatest advocates, mentors, or collaborators in the future. Who in your network haven’t you spoken to recently? Reach out today—you never know where a simple conversation might lead.

I was recently asked in an interview what one underrated skill has been surprisingly valuable in your career. It is such a great question and one that caused me to reflect on my answer. I settled on this... Cultivate meaningful connections If I could turn back time, I'd tell my younger self to invest wholeheartedly in building and nurturing a strong professional network. I've always been a people person, but early in my career, I underestimated the true power of genuine connections. When I moved to Singapore, I was essentially starting from scratch. The familiar faces and established relationships I relied on were thousands of miles away. It was a humbling experience but also a transformative one. I learned that networking isn't just about exchanging business cards or attending industry events; it's about forging authentic relationships with people who share your passion and can offer valuable insights, support, and even unexpected opportunities. It's about giving back, paying it forward, and fostering a community of growth. Today, my network is one of my most valuable assets. It's a source of inspiration, knowledge, and collaboration. It's a safety net when times get tough and a springboard for new endeavors. So, my advice to my younger self would be: Start early and don't stop: Building a network takes time and consistent effort. Be sure to start making connections before a crisis or a move to a new country. Cultivate relationships throughout your career, both within and outside your industry. Focus on quality over quantity: It's not about how many people you know, but the depth and strength of those connections. Seek out individuals who inspire you, challenge you, and share your values. Give more than you take: Be generous with your time, knowledge, and support. Offer to help others, make introductions, and share your expertise. The more you give, the more you'll receive in return. Embrace diversity: Seek out connections with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and industries. Diverse perspectives can spark innovation and open doors to new opportunities. Stay Connected: Networking is an ongoing process. Make time to nurture your relationships, even when not actively seeking new opportunities. The picture is of two of those amazing connections I made when I moved to Singapore; Anna Norriss - Marketing Strategist and Anna Seefeldt - Brand Strategist at Pink Pineapple. My professional (and personal) experience here wouldn't be the same without you.

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨, 𝐈 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬. By the end of the day, my pocket was full of business cards, but I couldn’t remember half the conversations. That’s when it hit me: networking isn’t about collecting names, titles, or LinkedIn connections. It’s about building relationships that actually matter. Here’s what I learned the hard way: - When you treat networking as a numbers game, you end up with contacts, not connections. - When you reach out without a clear purpose, people can sense it—and the conversation rarely goes far. - When you don’t nurture relationships over time, they fade away before any real value is created. So what works instead? - Adopt a value-first mindset. Before reaching out, I ask myself, “How can I contribute to this person’s journey before asking for anything?” Sometimes it’s sharing an article, making an introduction, or just offering encouragement. - Prepare before connecting. A little research goes a long way. Personalizing a message shows genuine respect for someone’s time and creates a much stronger first impression. - Maintain relationships. I’ve learned that small, consistent touches—congratulating someone on a promotion, commenting thoughtfully on their posts, or checking in periodically—make a big difference in keeping connections alive. Over time, I’ve discovered that quality connections always outweigh quantity. The few meaningful relationships I’ve nurtured have opened more doors, created more opportunities, and led to more collaboration than any pile of business cards ever could. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴? #NetworkingStrategy #ProfessionalGrowth #BusinessRelationships #CareerDevelopment #LinkedInTips #RelationshipBuilding #CoachIshleenKaur #InternationalBusinessCoach LinkedIn News LinkedIn News India LinkedIn for Small Business

Maintaining professional relationships with colleagues who have left your organization can be a valuable asset for career and personal growth. Here are some tips on how to do it: Stay connected on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great platform to stay connected with former colleagues. You can follow their updates, share articles and resources, and even send them a quick message to catch up. Send them a congratulatory message when they move on to a new job or promotion. This shows that you are supportive of their career growth and that you are still interested in their professional journey. Attend industry events together. Industry events are a great way to reconnect with former colleagues and catch up on their latest projects and initiatives. Offer your help and expertise. If your former colleague is starting their own business or taking on a new challenge, offer your help and expertise. This could involve providing advice, making introductions, or offering mentorship. Be a good referral partner. If you hear about a job opportunity that would be a good fit for a former colleague, be sure to refer them. This could help them land their next great job and further strengthen your professional relationship. A wider network of contacts. The more people you know in your industry, the more opportunities you will have for career advancement and collaboration. Access to new information and insights. Former colleagues can provide you with valuable insights into their new companies and industries. Potential mentors and advisors. Former colleagues can offer you guidance and support as you navigate your career. A source of referrals and recommendations. Former colleagues can provide you with positive references and recommendations when you are looking for a new job. You can build a strong network of contacts, access valuable information and insights, and gain potential mentors and advisors. These relationships can also lead to new opportunities and collaborations, further enhancing your career prospects. Remember, professional relationships are a two-way street. Be sure to reciprocate the effort and support that your former colleagues provide you. This will help to strengthen your bonds and ensure that your professional relationships remain mutually beneficial. Additional tips: Personalize your interactions. When you connect with a former colleague, take the time to personalize your interactions. This could involve sending them a message about a recent project they worked on or congratulating them on a personal achievement. Be genuine and authentic. When you interact with former colleagues, be genuine and authentic. Let them know that you value their friendship and professional relationship. Be patient. Building and maintaining professional relationships takes time and effort. Don't get discouraged if you don't hear back from a former colleague immediately. Keep in touch and continue to nurture the relationship over time.

In a world where your online profile could be your first handshake, the age-old art of in-person networking can feel like a lost relic. Yet, there’s an undeniable magic in the live, human connection that no digital interface can replicate. So, when you're stepping into the arena of face-to-face networking, how do you harness that magic effectively? Let’s break down the strategic play into clear, actionable tactics for making a lasting impact. Invent a Signature Ice-Breaker: Create an engaging question or share an interesting anecdote that’s personal and reflective of your interests. Rehearse it enough so that it feels natural, allowing you to deliver it with confidence and ease. Enter with Purpose: Clarify your intentions before the event. Are you there to find new clients, potential partners, or maybe to scout for new talent? With every handshake and introduction, have a clear objective in mind to drive the conversation. Ask with Precision: Arm yourself with well-thought-out questions that are relevant to current industry trends and individual expertise. Aim to get deeper insights by asking for examples and experiences, not just surface-level information. Listen Actively: Show genuine interest in responses, maintaining eye contact and responsive body language. Build on their replies with thoughtful, engaging follow-up questions. Exchange Value: Go into every conversation with the mindset of what you can offer them—an idea, a connection, or even just an interesting conversation. True networking is reciprocal; aim to provide value in every exchange. Connect and Follow Up: Whether you prefer a classic business card or a digital link, have your contact information readily accessible. Cement new connections with a personalized follow-up message within a day of the meeting. With these tactics in your arsenal, you’re ready to turn every networking opportunity into a strategic stepping stone for your professional journey. Remember, it’s the quality of the connections, not just the quantity, that builds a robust network.

The time to start networking is now. As professionals, sometimes we think “I don’t have the time to network.” The truth is, we all have the same amount of time - but spend it differently. If you hop on a Teams call today and HR joins with your boss and you are told your role is eliminated, one of the first things you might think of after the shock clears is: “who do I know that can help me find my next role.” That moment is not the time to begin to think about your network, it was actually 5 years ago when you got that promotion and the expanded responsibilities. Your professional network is as important as continuous learning, building skills for the future and being a high performer. Here are some ways for you to create space to network as well as practical tips: 1. Celebrate promotions and new roles of colleagues or people in your LI network. Take an interest. When someone leaves for a new company, put a reminder on your calendar for 90 days out and check in with them: how is X company and the new role going? 2. Develop a list of your top 10 companies you’d like to work for and see who you know that works there or connect with people there and begin to create connectivity: keep me in mind if you hear of a role that might be a fit and I can do the same for you. 3. Be willing to respond to LI messages from people you don’t know who might be seeking a role: answer questions and connect them to recruiting - I’m not sure about that role but here are a couple of recruiters in my company that might have more info. 4. Pay attention to where skills are going in your area of specialization and make the time to get entrenched and curious: when interesting roles surface internally or externally you want to have these skills not be caught on your back foot. 5. Be active on LinkedIn. Engage with posts, create your own content and share thought leadership around key topics or where your area of specialization is headed. Pro tip: don’t make the mistake of thinking LinkedIn is only for your external network. It can be equally important or even more powerful for building your internal network and brand at your current company - which can lead to new roles, expanded roles and other exposure. #opentowork #networking #careerjourney #careerprogression #skills #futureofwork

I deleted several hundred LinkedIn contacts this week, and it felt oddly satisfying...I also reconnected with several old business friends with whom a chat was long overdue. Over the years, our professional networks have grown, often including people we barely remember or those who never uploaded a profile picture. These faceless connections can clutter our lists, making it difficult to focus on the meaningful relationships that truly matter. Streamlining our contacts allows us to re-establish order and relevance, ensuring our LinkedIn network accurately reflects our current professional landscape. Moreover, many of these old contacts may have retired, changed industries, or, in some unfortunate cases, passed away. Holding onto these connections can sometimes feel like clinging to a past that no longer serves our present or future. Removing them creates space for new connections that align more closely with our current goals and aspirations. This process can be seen as digital decluttering, akin to cleaning out a closet or organizing a workspace, providing clarity and focus. Additionally, this exercise can unearth old contacts who are worth reconnecting with. Revisiting these connections can rekindle valuable business and networking relationships. People and their careers evolve; reconnecting with past contacts can open up new opportunities and insights that were previously untapped. This renewed engagement can lead to collaborations, partnerships, or a richer exchange of ideas, enhancing personal and professional growth. Finally, this practice is not just about subtraction but also about renewal. Cleaning out the old makes room for new opportunities and relationships. It's a proactive step towards maintaining a vibrant, dynamic professional network that reflects where we are now and where we want to go. Embracing this change allows us to engage more deeply with our connections, fostering a more active and engaged community that supports our professional growth and development.