We asked W. P. Carey Alumni: How do you network internally at your current job? Give your best tips!
Here is what they shared:
- Be Friendly, Proactive and Ask Great Questions
- Make Networking About Ways to Be Helpful and Interested
- Offer to Grab Lunch and “Pick Their Brain”
- Be Intentional and Take Control
- Seek Out a Mentor and Keep Your Video Camera On
- Coffee, Curiosity, Collaboration, and Sincerity
- Make the First Move When Networking
Be Friendly, Proactive and Ask Great Questions
Networking internally is immensely important in nearly any job as a way to broaden your exposure, build your brand, and strengthen your credibility among co-workers. When you start a new role, get involved early with everything you can (without sacrificing your work performance).
Join committees, attend events, schedule 1:1 meetings, and share key insights or relevant news stories via email regularly. By being proactive and putting yourself out there, you will be able to get up to speed quicker by learning how the company operates and who the key decision makers are.
Take the time to learn different aspects of the business from peers in other departments so you can think more holistically. It will take some time, but if you do these things well, you will become a go-to team member when important projects present themselves.
Brock Thatcher, Channel Marketing Manager, MBA ‘20, AprilAire
Make Networking About Ways to Be Helpful and Interested
In general, networking can feel pushy, but you can flip it. Make it about finding ways to be helpful and interested.
You’re new, so you don’t know what’s what; take the opportunity to lend a hand. Don’t stop there; while you’re helping, be interested and ask questions about the work or, better yet, the people you’re helping.
You’ll glean wisdom here and there, but at a minimum, be viewed as someone who’s a team player beyond their day-to-day role.
Juan Kingsbury, Talent Strategist, BS Global Business ‘04, Career Blindspot
Offer to Grab Lunch and “Pick Their Brain”
Networking is key in any professional setting, and one of the best ways to connect with your colleagues is by putting yourself out there. As a social butterfly, I’m always down to spark up a conversation with anyone, no matter what department they’re in.
A great way to do this is by offering to grab lunch and “pick their brain” about something they’re passionate and knowledgeable about. Not only is it a great way to learn more about the company, but it also helps you build personal connections with the people you work with. It makes networking feel more natural and easy, especially when you’re talking to people you see in the office every day.
Zoe Jirgens, Marketing Associate, CIS ‘20, mberry
Be Intentional and Take Control
You can feel calm and confident knowing that relationships will take time and effort, with fruitful rewards.
Be intentional, go to the People Operations team internally, tell them you are new, looking to meet colleagues, and ask when the next company event is. You have to seek out the opportunity, get uncomfortable, and enjoy growing.
Place yourself in environments where, by being present in that environment, you naturally grow into who you want to be. You will find that in those environments, others will have common interests as yourself.
I can promise you one thing: if you don’t get out there and try, nothing will happen.
Will Fedor, Owner, Business Law ‘19, Diverge
Seek Out a Mentor and Keep Your Video Camera On
Here are three tips to help you internally network at your current job.
- Seek out a mentor – the right mentor can help on this front in a huge way.
- Attend company-driven learning sessions and networking events.
- Try to have meetings via video (if not in person) – much better opportunity to connect/bond with the other person.
Andrew Carroll, Director, Global Talent Development Technology, MBA ‘09, Korn Ferry
Coffee, Curiosity, Collaboration, and Sincerity
My nugget for internal networking is centered around three simple “C’s” with an “S” – Coffee, Curiosity, Collaboration, and Sincerity. I have found that people in general are open to coffee conversations, especially with new joiners who take the initiative.
Being curious about your colleagues and senior leaders plus the responsibilities their teams manage, helps drive the conversations more organically and business-centric. It also demonstrates your interest in learning about the company ecosystem while being humble about it.
Often, these discussions would lead to a current problem that those teams are solving for. If that problem is in your area of interest and capability, offer to collaborate. Do this sincerely, and long-term professional bonds will start to take shape.
Pankaj Singh, Senior Product Manager, MS Business Analytics ‘16, NortonLifeLock
Make the First Move When Networking
In a world where many jobs are virtual, it can be challenging to network with colleagues at a new company.
One way to connect in a virtual environment is to reach out to coworkers near you and organize a lunch or happy hour to get to know them. I recommend inviting coworkers to coffee when they are in town so you can meet associates from other regions.
Similarly, take advantage of all travel opportunities presented to you by your employer when starting a new job, as they are an excellent opportunity to meet peers in other offices. While on the road, reach out to colleagues in the geographical area you are visiting and invite them to coffee or dinner to create connections outside of the office.
Macy Bello, Performance Marketing Manager, MBA Marketing ‘22, BS Marketing & BA Business Management ‘14, Comarch
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