The importance of networking within the creative industries.

It is essential to have professional-level portfolios and showreels when navigating the creative industries at a professional level. Still, it takes more than that to be successful as a professional. In this blog post, I will explore what it means to network, why it's important and how we can do so effectively.

What is Networking?

Networking is making and nurturing relevant, long-term and mutually beneficial connections and relationships to provide advice and contacts that can help you make informed decisions about your career. Networking is also a way to find unadvertised jobs or internship opportunities. There are a few different types of networking, including in-person, one-on-one or in group settings or Online, by way of relevant chat forums, LinkedIn, etc. 

 

"Networking is marketing. Marketing yourself, your uniqueness, what you stand for." - Christine Comaford - Lynch.

Why is networking critical to success?

Most experts would agree that the people most connected are the most successful. Therefore, investing your time into the relationships that you have (personal or professional) can reward you significantly throughout your career. Networking is an essential skill to develop as it will help you keep on top of industry trends, meet prospective mentors, clients or partners and help gain access to the necessary resources to nurture your career and development.  

How do we network effectively?

A great start is to consider any connections you have and who they might know. That could be anyone from professors and staff members to former colleagues, parents or friends. You never know who might have a great connection, and your current circle of friends and peers is a great place to start.

Research and find the best people to contact in your chosen field. You can do this by visiting employers' websites, credits in movies, films, magazines or even just word of mouth. The people you target must be the right ones. When it comes to building a career, there are so many different tasks to do and your time is precious, so be precise. 

To make the most of networking, it's good to remember a few do's and don'ts that will help you come across as a reliable and trustworthy individual and someone who people will want to keep in their minds when exciting opportunities arise. 

-Keeping hold of any contacts you make, regardless of how insignificant you think t are, will help you in the long run. As you begin to collect an excellent repertoire of connections, it might become difficult to remember exact details about them, so keeping notes of what they do, who they work for and how you know them is an excellent way of remembering individuals. By doing this, you can better connect with them in the future.

-Make an effort to be heard. As someone who considers themselves to be more on the introverted side, this can be a very challenging thing to do. However, if you want to be successful, you need to make an effort to overcome any fears or anxiety you hold to ensure that you are taken seriously. The more you practice this, the easier it becomes. I will link some techniques you can use to this at the post's end of the bar. So check it out if you feel that this might be you.  

-Networking events can provide you with some great opportunities, so it is essential to make sure that you take notes of any potential advice, contacts or information that you feel make help you in the future. Another way to help others remember you is to always carry the business on you. Having something physical that others can refer to is a great way to keep them fresh in their mind. 

-Remember, everyone is busy, and you are not the only person on any one person's radar, so it's essential to follow up with any contacts you have made, new or old. It can be as simple as asking for feedback on a project you are working on, providing some advice, or even asking how their week has been. Keeping in contact with people is an essential part of networking. It is how you build good, long-lasting professional relationships.  

-Use social media to your advantage. Connecting with external use has never been easier in the modern internet age. Websites like Twitter, Facebook and my favourite, Linkedin, are a few. Make sure a solid and professional online presence is reliable and up-to-date with relevant content others can see and recommend. It is also a great way to keep up to date with what other professionals are up to. 

-As I mentioned before, people are busy, so it's essential to be mindful of when to be patient or persistent. Try to come across as someone enthusiastic but don't overdo it; remember to practice patience. Employ proactive people, but keep it professional and maintain good social etiquette.

-To be effective at networking, you need to be willing to give back. Be prepared to offer others opportunities or advice if you feel it may benefit them. By scratching others' backs, they will also scratch yours in return. 

-Navigating a career in the creative industry can be a challenging affair. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. People often have a different and sometimes better approach to a particular subject or program better than you do, even if you don't think that is the case. Use a fresh set of eyes and ideas; they can get you out of a rut. 

-It's essential to keep in touch with your contacts but be mindful of their time. If budding professionals likely have hectic schedules to juggle, time is a precious resource. Unfortunately, it's not likely they will be so willing to help in the future if you abuse it.

-Networking can be difficult, especially if social interaction is already a challenge, so don't be too hard on yourself if you don't succeed the first time. Being a great networker comes with practice, and it takes time to build up a good reporter of contacts that you can fall back and rely on. as mentioned before, be patient and slowly; with hard work and a bit of practice, you will succeed.