DEVEX CAREER Guide

“You want to use these opportunities to really get insight into the nuances of a sector or organization,” Steen said. You should also be prepared to answer questions about yourself and provide examples that show the skills and experience you could bring to the organization.

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No matter your area of expertise or experience level, LinkedIn is a platform that can lead to many fruitful professional connections. Having a standout LinkedIn profile will help, but you need to engage meaningfully with other users to take full advantage of all the career opportunities it has to offer.

Being helpful to other users is one of the key aspects of successful networking on LinkedIn, Simone Anzböck, an international coach and development expert, said. Networking is “really about building a relationship with someone and the best way to be remembered is to be helpful,” she said.

If you see an interesting article that might be relevant to one of your connections, share it with them. Also while remembering that “You don't have to do that publicly, you can engage with people in direct messages,” Anzböck said.

In general, it’s imperative to engage with other users by sharing content, liking and commenting on other users' posts, joining groups, and using hashtags.

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A: Stay patient and gently persistent, and try to not take it personally! You need to strike a balance between too much outreach and finding other people to put your energy toward. Messages can sometimes feel like more of a commitment, and it’s also easy to forget to respond. So, I would encourage you to give that person’s inbox a rest for a few months and try connecting with someone else.

Before you start another round of outreach, give your past approach some reflection. What has worked when you’ve shared links with people before? When have you had good responses from people? Focus your networking efforts into what has worked rather than solely focusing on what hasn’t.

— Jennifer Bangoura, director of career innovation, Nexford University

Most global development professionals have gotten accustomed to attending industry events and conferences from the comfort of their home offices, local cafes, or wherever one can tap into an internet connection. This virtual aspect of industry gatherings remains integral well over two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In terms of networking, connections that would have typically happened over coffee or a cocktail during an in-person event have shifted to social media platforms like LinkedIn post-event. For many, this has actually made networking easier and more accessible. 

Consider this: When attempting to make a new professional connection in any setting, it always helps to have something in common. If you’ve both attended the same virtual event, this commonality is baked in.

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Networking and professional engagement are critical to finding out about consulting gigs because many are not advertised externally.

Why? Most of the time, the hiring manager doesn’t need to advertise a consulting job because they will tap into their network of contacts. Professionals looking to land consulting work should therefore connect and engage with the departments they are interested in and increase their visibility this way.

Gaining new contacts, especially at organizations you're targeting, is crucial for consultants to ultimately find the work they desire. But many don’t see the value that lies hidden within their existing networks.

“When I talk to people, very often I realize they don't maximize their current network of contacts or the potential network of contacts — you know, alumni, people that have been in the very same city,” said

Roberto Amorosino, a career coach who previously worked as a senior human resources specialist at the World Bank Group.

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