IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK

 

Introduction

Source: Gunner (2018)

Technological advancement and expansion of globalized territories are more focused on networking in multidimensional perspectives where the linkages of the people have no further restrictions for a specific segment, industry or boundary where the participants have been identified the importance and benefits of networking (Witte, 2019). Networking can be defined as human behaviors that are aimed at building, maintaining and using informal relationships that create potential benefits of through work-related activities of individuals by voluntarily granting access to resources and maximizing common advantages (Wolff & Moser, 2009). Moreover, networking is an art of building and maintaining relationships with people anticipating gain and exchange mutual benefits in the future which also influences in profession development of the individuals who are interconnected (Bonds-Raacke, Raacke and Elliott, 2017).

Depending on the nature of establishments the networks can be segregated into 2 main categories as; Social Networks and Professional Networks where the professional networks also can be broadly described as service value networks in the industrial and economic system where the people, individuals or groups are connected dynamically to co-create value (Chan and Hsu, 2015).

Social networks

Globalized social networking more popularized by teens and individuals which enable sharing information and stay connected online or live with their friends online on Web sites such as Facebook Inc., Instagram, Twitter, etc… with billions of users are showing a trend of exploring and transforming as commercial business platforms in the virtual business world where the platform facilitate space for millions of professionals and entrepreneurs to advertising and maintain business relationships under many business arms and verticals through online and moreover Social networking is just one of many consumer technologies, including blogs, wikis and virtual worlds, to cross over into the corporate world (Vascellaro, 2007).

Professional Network

Participants in the highly globalized, socialized, commercialized and the also the competitive business world (recruiters, professionals and business owners) recognize that an established network is the way to success (Cappeli, 2019). Researchers have found out that the core purpose of professional networks are to help the stakeholders or partners to promote, develop and grow the business, meet different personals, improve the career life, and deal with different incidents in professional life (Tomlinson, 2004).

Professional online network like LinkedIn helps entrepreneurs to expand cross border networks and start partnership with people by sharing important and competitive source of information regarding the relevant industry and latest updates which triggers more entrepreneurs to adopt LinkedIn in their business operations (Pratiwi and Mohamed, 2020). More than 50 Million companies around the world are continuously using LinkedIn to promote career opportunities and to stay updated with industry trends, as well as to drive business results by building networks and connections with like-minded professionals (News-LinkedIn, 2020). Joining a network or creating just a new link is not helping to be success through the networking unless maintain long-term relationship links with updated profile and higher frequent of engagement (Knight, 2016).

Benefits and Limitations in Networking

Benefits

Strategic established business or individual cross boarder relationships through a networking- especially in professional networking are beneficial to the network participants in many ways as follows;

1. *New Business Leads- Through the existing network connections business personal will get the opportunities potential people interested for the industry or the business. Hence, networking is a great way to acquire new business leads (Manchester Worldwide Institute of Higher Education, 2018).

2.  *Career Opportunities- Professional Networking offers varies career opportunities of the recruiters related to the relevant industry which will assist to find a desired career opportunities for the job seekers and also for the individuals seeks job enhancements and also a platform for the best competitive recruitments for job vacancies (Profnet, n.d).

   *Personal & Skill Development- Effective communications and work-based skills will be reflected among the network and it will directly impact on individual career development and with the inspiration of network connections (Walker, 2017).

4.  *Identify Best Practices & Market Trends- Networking creates opportunities to explore the best practices with benchmarking and latest trends in the industry which are valuable in business strategy formulations (Manchester Worldwide Institute of Higher Education, 2018).

5.   *Status Maintenance- Personal Career Development of individuals is visible to the network participants while knowledge sharing will aid in reputation & strengthen the professional icon of the individuals among the network (Manchester Worldwide Institute of Higher Education, 2018). 

6.  *Marketing Tool for business- Majority of the social & professional platforms allows advertising facilities to promote business promoters which are positively impact on business growth opportunities among the networks (Johansson, 2019).

Limitations

Networking also have some limitations hence most of the largest networking platforms are online, rather offline connectivity mainly using networking as a marketing toll. Security, Negative exposure, Legal Violations & Harassments are the main identified cons of online networking and same are arises at a minimum level in professional networking (SHRM, n.d).

References 

Bonds-Raacke, J., Raacke, J and Elliott, S. (2017) Should I be networking? Exploring the importance of networking for students: Opportunity knocks through relationship building. Psychology Student Network [Online]. Available at: <https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2017/01/importance-networking>. [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

Cappelli.P. (2019) Your Approach to Hiring Is All Wrong. Harvard Business Review [Online]. Available at :< https://hbr.org/2019/05/recruiting >.  [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

Chan, W.K and Hsu, C. (2015) When human networks collide: the degree distributions of hyper-networks. IISE Transactions, 47(9), pp. 929-942.

Johansson, A (2019). Should You Use LinkedIn as a Marketing Tool? Social Economics [Online]. Available at :< https://socialnomics.net/2019/06/16/should-you-use-linkedin-as-a-marketing-tool/>. [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

Knight, R. (2016) How to Maintain Your Professional Network Over the Years. Harvard Business Review [Online]. Available at: < https://hbr.org/2016/09/how-to-maintain-your-professional-network-over-the-years>. [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

Manchester Worldwide Institute of Higher Education (2018) Advantages of Professional Networking [Online]. Available at: < https://www.manchester.edu.sg/global_events/5-advantages-of-professional-networking/>.  [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

News-LinkedIn (2020) About us [Online]. Available at:< https://news.linkedin.com/about-us#Statistics>. [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

Pratiwi, D and Mohamed, R. (2020) The Role of LinkedIn in Effectuation Processes. Uppsala University, pp. 1-43.

Profnet, Inc. (n,d) Advantages of Professional Networking Groups [Online]. Available at:< https://www.profnet.org/adv.html>. [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

SHRM (n.d) What are the pros and cons of using social media in the workplace? What should we include in a policy? SHRM [Online]. Available at: <https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/hr-qa/pages/socialnetworkingsitespolicy.aspx>. [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

Tomlinson, H. (2004) Educational Leadership - Personal Growth for Professional Development, 1st ed., London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Vascellaro, J.E. (2007) Social Networking Goes Professional. The Wall Street Journal [Online]. Available at: <https://rtu.businesscommunicationnetwork.com/files/2011/06/social-media-goes-professional.pdf>. [Accessed on 20^th September 2020].

Walker, C. (2017) How can you use networking to benefit your career? Science Council [Online]. Available at: https://sciencecouncil.org/how-can-you-use-networking-to-benefit-your-career/. [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

Witte, M.D. (2019) Who you don’t know: Stanford economist examines how a weak social network can explain inequality, social immobility. Stanford News Service [Online], 6^th March, Available at: < https://news.stanford.edu/2019/03/06/human-networks-drive-inequality-social-immobility/>. [Accessed on 19^th September 2020].

Wolff, H.G and Moser, K. (2009) Effects of networking on career success: A longitudinal study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94 (1), pp.196-206.