The most effective networking strategies in my view are: be genuine and be active.

Many people in our culture still hold the belief that networking is a selfish, opportunistic activity, but in its pure form, it isn’t (or, at least, it doesn’t have to be). Genuine networking involves:

• Offering help to and receiving help from others
• Sharing knowledge and gaining it from others

By embracing the two-sided nature of networking, you will find others respond to you and are attracted to your honesty.

In order for others to see how genuine you are, and how much you have to offer, you must become active in your profession. In today’s society, it is easy to interact professionally with others via the web, Skype, blogs, and social media in addition to face-to-face meetings. However, attending meetings and events in person is an almost unbeatable strategy to let others know what you can do for them.

To learn more, review the networking on-demand tutorial, or if you prefer to learn by reading written material, read the networking section of the Career Center.