It is often said that it is not what you know, it is who you know. Some of us are lucky enough to have those family connections to get us into good paying jobs, but for the rest of us it can be difficult to get a high paying position at the company of our dreams. So, we have to find the right people and start building connections. We have to befriend people who know people.

Twenty years ago, forging the right connections was largely a hit or miss proposition, with a lot of dead ends. Technology makes finding those connections easier than ever, and modern networking technologies enable you to find the path to getting to know the right people. Understanding how to make use of that technology is what we seek to teach today.

Fill in the Blanks

This is something that social media and an application like Covve can help with. Before you start making connections, you first need to get to know who you know. Find out more about the people already in your network. You might be surprised to find that they have work experience highly relevant to what you are after. When pursuing a new professional opportunity, it is important to look to those people already in your network first. These people will be more receptive to your wants and needs, and are more likely to provide referrals or even be a source for opportunities.

Making Use of Those You Know

You might be surprised to learn who the people around you know. You may come to discover that a close friend or a coworker actually has a connection with somebody important in the industry you want to work in. They can help make an introduction that could prove lucrative in the long run, but how can you figure out if somebody knows somebody important when they are unaware if it themselves?

This is where technology comes into play. While standard social media like Facebook can help you see who a person’s friends are, professional applications like LinkedIn and Covve can help you find those important connections. These connections can then turn into a lucrative opportunity for you.

Maintain Those Connections

It is worth noting here that nobody likes to be used. If you are unwilling to make a commitment to a genuine relationship with your contacts – even if only a genuinely professional relationship – then your efforts could backfire as you gain a reputation for being the sort of person who uses others. Keeping track of when you last spoke with somebody and following up. Frequency of follow-ups depends on the nature of the relationship – professional contacts you can generally leave alone unless you have an opportunity for them, if you make a personal contact they would need to be contacted more frequently).

Keeping track of those connections will allow you to call upon them when you need them. Remember that connections are always two-way streets: if you want somebody to help you, be prepared to help them when they need it.

Like Building a Chain

I’m going to leave a video behind that illustrates what the goal here is perfectly:

Follow along with the story here and you will understand what is happening. Working your way up in the world is all about building a chain. Chains are built one link at a time, and a network is much like that chain. If you neglect one link, the chain can easily fall apart. However, if your forge strong, long-lasting links then your chain will similarly remain in place for decades. Finding people, forging connections, and keeping in touch are fundamentals in networking and getting ahead. At the end of the day, is this not the most human of activities?