Career Nav: Networking Toolkit

Welcome to the Women Who Code Networking Toolkit, a guide dedicated to helping you nurture professional relationships and work through common networking challenges. This toolkit seeks to empower you to view networking as one of many tools in your journey to building a long-lasting career in the tech industry.

Strategies to Nurture Long-Lasting Relationships

Reframe Networking

Like many people who have attended traditional professional conferences, I used to panic at the idea that networking was about printing out business cards and interrupting small group conversations at giant exhibition halls with thousands of people. However, with the normalization of remote and virtual events, it’s a good time to evaluate our immediate association with networking. Is it even still relevant? Is it time to reframe traditional networking?

A 2017 survey conducted by LinkedIn revealed that respondents felt that networking was vital to their careers yet struggled to maintain relationships, often losing touch with the connections when things were “going well.” So often, we reach out when we are having challenges rather than considering how building a network can strengthen your career even when you are not looking for a new position. Networking only when you are job-searching can put a lot of pressure on yourself and your connections. If you incorporate networking outside of your immediate team as part of your daily professional practice, you’ll feel more comfortable exercising this skill when the stakes feel higher.

Consistency, Collaboration, and Giving Back

Many of us have had the experience where you’ve scheduled an initial coffee chat but aren’t sure how to maintain communication afterward. Consider ways that you can collaborate with your connection in unexpected ways. Is there an upcoming Hackathon or volunteering opportunity you could collaborate on? 

No matter where you are in your career, there is someone who can benefit from your advice and experience. During one of my previous job searches, I felt burnt out from networking until one of my connections asked me if I’d be willing to speak about my experiences to her 18-year-old cousin. Giving back this way was an affirming experience, nurtured my professional connection, and reframed my experience as a strength.

Challenges and Potential Solutions

Balancing Time

If you are not currently job searching, it can be easy to push aside networking or feel overwhelmed by the idea of prioritizing networking while also managing your daily workload. 

Finding Time to Recharge as an Introvert

There are so many different factors that can affect your career. Networking is key, but so is studying for interviews, volunteering, and self-reflection on what roles you are looking for. If you are an introvert and find that networking is draining, make sure to schedule your time to support yourself as you grow your connections. Networking doesn’t have to be about making as many connections as possible. 

Women Who Code Resources

• Networking at Work: Beyond Engineering
• Do’s and Don’ts of Professional Networking 
• How to “Network” Properly

Learn more about Anna, Program Manager for WWCode Career Navigation, and connect via LinkedIn.