Let’s be honest, it’s been a little difficult to build a professional network during a pandemic. Gone are the days of Happy Hours and after-work social events. We now live in the pandemic era, a time when a simple hug or handshake could cost someone their lives. It may seem like hyperbole, but experts estimate that the United States will lose a total of 500,000 American lives in the coming months, less than a year since the beginning of the pandemic.
Nothing is the same. We are not quite sure that anything will ever be the same even after we conquer this catastrophe. Many businesses have transitioned to a remote model. The death of the movie theater seems to be upon us. Masks are now a common accessory and are being layered since the new strain has surfaced.
Since opportunities are scarce and gatherings are feared, how is anyone expected to form strong new relationships? We need each other now more than ever, so what are the best ways to connect?
5 Ways to Network During a Pandemic
1 | Linkedin – For Traditional Professional Connections
Linkedin is a great way to connect with other professionals in and outside of your field. Once you make a few connections, you will be shown other people you may be interested in connecting with. The more you engage with your connections, the more likely you are to land a new role or opportunity.
Related Read: Here’s how to get more LinkedIn Profile views
2 | Facebook Groups – For People Who Share Common Goals and Interests
Facebook may not be the most popular social media application anymore but it is not to be underestimated. Facebook groups are perfect for interacting with professionals who share a common goal or interest. Chances are you can find a group that consists of exactly the type of people that need to be in your network.
3 | Instagram – For People Who Share Similar Content
This may seem controversial but Instagram can be just as useful for networking as any other social media platform. Instagram is a great way to share and promote your accomplishments and the accomplishments of others. If you search for the right hashtags, you can check out the profiles of people that are sharing the same type of content. Like Facebook, you can also create chat groups in Instagram’s messenger to form your own small community.
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4 | Video Chats – For a More Personal Experience
Since the beginning of the pandemic, millions of professionals have turned to platforms like Zoom to communicate as efficiently as possible without meeting physically. Scheduling a video chat session with a professional or professionals in your field is also a great way to build a level of comfort and show that you value strong communication. Video chats are more personal than typical email and instant messaging. You may not be comfortable in front of the camera but making an effort can go a long way!
Related Read: Running out of things to talk about during your chats? Here’s a list of questions.
5 | “Haaave you met ______?” – For People Who Have Big Networks
How I met Your Mother has become a cult classic. The sitcom ran for 9 seasons and had over 200 episodes because of its lovable cast, none more so than Neil Patrick Harris’s Barney Stinson. Barney was known for his shenanigans but was quite the charmer. He often used that charm to help his friend Ted do some networking of his own. One of Barney’s most infamous techniques to introduce Ted to connections of interest was by asking strangers if they had met Ted despite the question being their first interaction. While this method is not recommended, referring others to potential connections is another great way to build your own network. When it comes to connections, the more the merrier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This is a guest post by Charles Singh. Charles is a published Entertainment News Writer for ScreenRant. He has utilized these networking techniques to build a team of 12 contributors and schedule interviews for his site ComicBookChuck.com.
Related Read: Learn more about how Charles became a writer here!
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