Within the world of business, it’s all about who you know. While this mentality carried a lot of weight in decades past, IT recruiters will find that it is especially true nowadays. Thanks to the Internet – not to mention, a growing dependence on all things digital – it can be particularly challenging to make new connections that actually mean something. However, if you bring back old-school tactics that allow you to interact with other people and form bonds beyond a simple friend request, you could be more successful in your employment efforts.
If you depend on gadgets to do different tasks throughout your daily life, it could be difficult remembering how to network in the real world without being connected to some sort of virtual platform. Luckily, there are numerous strategies that you could use to bring it back to the basics and make professional friends, making your IT recruiting initiatives more effective.
Give your networking meaning
When you are trying to mix and mingle at networking events or other social occasions with a lot of professionals involved, you should consider how you conduct an online search. This may seem strange, but think about it: You typically come across better results if you type in the most specific terms that paint a picture of exactly what you want. This same strategy applies to networking, and if you identify precise qualities you’re looking for in potential employees, you will have more direction and ultimately make your job a whole lot easier.
Business 2 Community explained that pinpointing a purpose prior to a networking opportunity is an invaluable tactic that many IT recruiters tend to overlook. The source elaborated, saying that oftentimes, people approach these chances to meet professionals and expand their applicant pool all wrong. Rather than simply wanting to get your company’s name out there or chat without any real reason behind it, you should set distinct goals. For example, if you have certain positions that you are hoping to fill, keep these jobs in mind – as well as all the qualifications applicants should have if they were to excel in these roles – so that you have a set mission and aren’t just wandering a networking event aimlessly.
Zero in on people you know you want
After establishing this narrow focus, you should stick with it, paying attention to the skills and talents that could make candidates prime prospects.
“Instead of trying to network with everybody and anybody, identify people who are like you and share the same mindset,” Ziver Birg, founder and CEO of Zivelo, told StartupCollective. “Look for people who might be in the same age group or the same growth phase with their own companies.”
That being said, you shouldn’t narrow your scope too much, especially when it comes to the line of work in which people are currently working. Professionals in all fields may have some secret skills that you wouldn’t even know about unless you speak with them.
“Don’t just limit yourself to connections within your own industry. Good connections within other industries are often the most beneficial,” explained Birg.
Sure, you need an IT employee to have highly specialized skills, training and experience under their belts. However, these professionals may hold positions in a variety of different fields, and just because their current companies aren’t solely tech firms, doesn’t mean they don’t have what it takes to dominate the role you have up for grabs. In fact, your business could even benefit from hiring staff members with different backgrounds because they may bring something new to the table that would be an asset you didn’t even know you needed.
