Networking in the 21st Century

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Does this look familiar?

Let’s face it –networking and being social isn’t what it used to be. Before the internet, you had to walk “down the road” or maybe get in your car to meet-up with your friends; you communicated as pen pals, and if you wanted to know about a person or a company, you had to be physically introduced by someone who knew them. How things have changed…A Neilson report released three weeks ago stated that Americans spend almost a quarter of their time on social networking sites today. Now, you can meet and talk to your cousin’s long-lost half brother in Thailand, from your cell phone on your way to work in the morning.

We’re introducing ourselves to and getting in front of people within niche communities; we’re engaging in conversations about topics we’re passionate about; we’re listening to what others have to say and responding intelligently; we are growing our businesses…all over the internet.

Professionals in the career industry use online networking to expand their reach by communicating with others outside their network and in a way they never could before:

• 91% of hiring professionals and 80% of all companies use social media to recruit
• 1 out of every 20 U.S. LinkedIn profiles  is a recruiting, sourcing, or HR professional
• According to the Wall Street Journal, 94 percent of successful job hunters claimed that networking had made all the difference for them

*Statistics shared by Senior Staffing Consultant, Rob Harvie

“Recruiters are finding new ways to identify talent,” in addition to building credibility and relationships online, says Manager-Temporary Division, Jennifer DeLucia. “LinkedIn is a way to do just that without spending hours at events and on the road.” Hiring professionals can –with a click of a mouse—identify specific groups and virtual spaces in which to have meaningful and productive conversations.

Think about it; it is a fascinating concept. In a way, we’re doing what we’ve always done, except we’re doing it online.

Some Tips for You: Get “virtually” out there and network: invite someone new to Link today; mention or retweet someone on Twitter; read the comments on an interesting news article and comment yourself; research a new client or employer on Facebook;  ask a question on someone’s blog (or start your own blog!); continue the conversation. You never know where it might lead.

…and chew on this: Before the internet, you knew all your friends and acquaintances in real-life, not virtually. Given that we can now rely on online to initiate a hand shake, what function does the internet possess in helping us make introductions and establish connections? Do you use the internet as the initiation or replacement for an in-person conversation?