Networking for introverts

As college students, we constantly hear how important it is to make connections and network with people in our career fields to prepare us for post-college life. But if you are like me—an introvert—networking can seem like a daunting task.

Networking is often seen as a fast-paced activity filled with small talk and crowded events, for people who may experience social anxiety or find themself being more introverted, navigating these situations can feel insurmountable. But networking isn’t just about speaking to as many people as possible. It’s about building meaningful connections.

Lots of things can play into the anxiety about networking. Sometimes, it can be caused by social anxiety, which can prevent us from feeling comfortable speaking to people we don’t know and doing those traditional networking activities. But if you deal with these issues, you are not alone.

Social anxiety affects 5-10% of people worldwide and is the third most common mental health condition. It can affect various social situations we find ourselves in, especially when trying to network.

The first step to being successful in networking as an introvert is developing skills that can help make the task easier. One skill that is important in networking is something called promotion focus.

Promotion focus entails aiming for positive outcomes no matter what we face. We can hone this skill by setting goals for how we want to network and practicing viewing rejection as a mismatch and not a personal failure.

Research from the Harvard Business Review said individuals with a promotion focus are 17% more likely to succeed in networking. By shifting our mindset, we can make those conversations easier.

Another important skill to have is persistence. According to the same research, being persistent can boost your networking prospects by about 51%. This means following through on connections you make, whether online or in-person and keeping on even in the face of rejection. Patience and commitment to networking will ultimately make the task seem like second nature.

Building a strong network of people comes down to the strategies you use to make those connections, and there are a ton of different ways to connect outside of the traditional networking events and career fairs.

One great way to connect with industry peers is online networking. Sometimes, networking in person can be too overwhelming, but thanks to technology, we are able to do the same thing through social media like LinkedIn. This way, you can still build meaningful connections without the anxiety of a face-to-face meeting. Another way to avoid the crowded networking events is one-on-one networking. After building a basic connection online, inviting the contact out to coffee or lunch still allows us to get to know them without engaging in a group setting.

Finding someone in your career field or department who can attend networking events with you is another great way to meet contacts, even when you are dealing with anxiety. By having someone come with you, you can practice questions with them and have them help you to stay grounded. Having a networking partner can help us feel more confident when navigating introductions and starting conversations with contacts.

Honing social skills and finding introvert-friendly networking activities is great, but the most important step is preparation. Preparing ahead of time for meetings or events can help us to maximize the opportunities we are given, and can boost our confidence going in.

Start by researching the networking event you are attending and the people who will be there. Understanding your audience will help you to find your target connections. Set clear objectives for how you want the event to go, such as making a certain number of connections or meeting a specific number of people. Having clear goals for what we want to accomplish can help us to focus more on our connections and less on the chaos happening around us.

Additionally, prepare a few conversation starters, like relevant questions or compliments. This can help us smoothly initiate conversations and transition into making contacts that will help us in our careers.

During interactions, make sure to remember to actively listen to what your contact is saying and ask thoughtful follow-up questions to help build a deeper connection. Lastly, always follow up with the contacts you make. Send a follow-up email or message, and share relevant information or resources that may be of interest to them.

Networking as an introvert can seem like a challenging task, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can network like a professional. By focusing on being persistent and good preparation, you can overcome anxiety about networking and meet important contacts that will help you in the future. Remember, networking is about the quality of connections you make, not the quantity.