What is Networking and Why is it Important?
Networking, as a process, is a long standing and important practice pertaining to the establishment of social connections within a given sphere (Kagan, 2021). This process has always been an intricate and unspoken part of the work environment, allowing people to more effectively work with each other. Networking can be done in person, at special parties, gatherings and meetups, or indirectly, through various services that are used for professional communication. By talking with others, a person gets to better understand their work capability, web of relations with other people in the sphere, and potential avenues of cooperation. The process of engaging in networking is necessary for both successful career advancement and cooperation between people in the same sphere. It opens up new opportunities and maximizes the potential humans can showcase in their trade.
Networking in the Digital Age
The world of today relies on digital technology in all aspects of live, including, most importantly, communication between people. The use of the online space has revolutionized the way people interact with each other, and changed how we approach work relations. With the introduction of the internet, the process of networking has become much more accessible and convenient, giving individuals from all walks of life an opportunity to promote themselves and meet other professionals in their sphere. The use of social media, in particular, has become the staple of modern communication, being used both for casual interactions between people and serious work relations. The ability to talk with people, exchange information has expanded the ability of people to work internationally, making remote work or cooperation a possibility. Internet as a tool for establishing work contacts has become an irreplaceable and much needed part of the professional scene.
Niche Networking
While conventional social networks are still widely used to connect people across the world and make it easier for professionals to establish their networks, they are not ideal for a work environment due to the focus put on entertainment and the lack of specialized tools. In this case, Niche Networks come into play as a way to unite the use of social networks with the needs of a worker, giving people in specific spheres an ability to find like-minded individuals and establish strong relations. The use of Niche Networking helps to create a diverse and adaptable platform that caters to the needs of a particular sphere, or allows people to find jobs easily (Koksal, 2019).
Main Platforms for Niche Networking
There are a number of popular sites for niche networking, with some of them being focused on a specific job market, and others allowing people of all professions to find something to their needs. In particular sites like LinkedIn, Behance, and Goodwall can be noted, as they are more prominent and well-recognized among all the possible candidates.
Niche Networking Sites
LinkedIn is a popular social media site designed to help people from different job sectors to find each other and interact. It allows users to post their online public resumes, which then can be used to judge a person’s capability within their field. With the inclusion of the chat functions, the webpage allows people to easily reach others and establish connections. In terms of assisting people in the job market, the site is also used by the majority of big companies, industry professionals and hiring agencies, making it the number one tool for gaining professional recognition and support (Davis et al., 2020).
Because of its visual structure, the information is easily accessible and divided into sections depending on its subject, allowing both the viewers and the creators of the page to structure data intuitively. The use of LinkedIn in the work environment is recognized as a legitimate practice and the website can be used as a sign of a person’s professionalism in a particular craft. People can leave reviews and comments on a specific individual’s page, making verifying the claims made and information provided more easy. The tool is useful to both people already well known in a particular field and those only starting, as it can become a personal advertisement of a person’s capabilities.
Behance
Behance, as a platform, differs from LinkedIn significantly. While the latter was created as a way for people from all industries to interact and use in a professional capacity, the former takes a much more specific approach to its target audience. Behance is a website for illustrators and designers created by adobe – a major player in the field of digital art software. The platform is used for creators to share their works and get more recognition, as it allows them to build their digital portfolios supporting various forms of creation. The site, while more specific than LinkedIn, perfectly fulfills its role of giving artists recognition and building connections, with the combination of it’s comfortable interface and a user-friendly design.
Goodwall
Goodwall, much like many similar websites, helps people to connect with others in finding job opportunities and ways of advancing in their career. However, a significant difference this resource has from its competitors is that it is more focused on younger workers and college students. It is advertised and promoted as a platform for college students to find jobs, establish connections, and start their long journey into a professional sphere. It works as a kind of a starting point for many, allowing them to effectively jumpstart the process of either finding a job or securing useful connections.
Niche Networking Benefits
Niche Networking, as a type of network and a subset of social media has a number of benefits it presents to its users. As an interactive, usually free, and global platform for people to inhabit, it gives a person much more exposure than traditional means of communication or networking would have provided. A person can complete their profile, publish their accomplishments online, and expand the reach of their professional skills into the international sphere. As a method of communication it is much easier to utilize and take advantage for, with the abundance of online guides and the intuitive site design many sites have. Compared to normal social media, Niche Networking spaces are also much more focused on what a person in the work environment needs, creating a professional and universally understood framework of connecting with others.
The advantages of the Niche Networking do not end on the ones discussed before, as the potential of such platforms is nigh limitless, given the advancement of communication technology. Most evidently, the use of specific networking websites allows people to interact with those outside their social circle. This can include people on the other side of a country, or an entirely different continent. Furthermore, people utilizing these websites can appear to be more professional, organized and well informed than others, due to the inherently organized presentation and the widespread usage of Niche Networking. As a method of communications, it also provides a unified, universally understood and unrestricted platform for professional communication, making it ideal gathering space for those in the job market.
Limits of Niche Networking
However, it is important to note that Niche Networking has its number of disadvantages and limiting factors, which one needs to be considerate of when relying on specific platforms in their professional capacity. Firstly, an online profile is unable to fully translate a person’s characteristics, personality and opinions to their colleagues. A meeting in person or a direct interaction is needed to understand a person’s being, which often cannot be accomplished with only the use of Niche Networks. This can create problems when a person feigns an appearance for better work relations or does not present a full overview of themselves. Another point against Niche Networking is that platforms excluding LinkedIn can be rather limited in their reach and scope of operations. Platforms created to suit the needs of a particular professions can often be less populated or face competition within their market, which can limit the amount of people they can amass as their user base. As a last point of consideration, the most obvious and important factor must be considered – falsification of information. People lie in online profiles, fake their credentials, or actively spread misinformation for their gain. In the online sphere, this process is much more widespread and easy to accomplish, due to the sheer amount of information that circulates on the internet.
Influence on International Relations
Niche Networks can be a great tool for expanding and improving international relationships, as well as making companies or individuals more aware of the work spheres in other countries. It can introduce people to approaches and strategies they might not have been taught, or give them insight into what a foreign market requires. It builds global connections, promoting long-distance work and globalization. As a way for people to showcase their competency, it also gives each person a relatively equal opportunity for success, helping those who might have been born into less fortunate circumstances succeed.
As vertical platforms that promote international communication, they open new pathways for knowledge and competence for professionals all across the globe. A person from a foreign country can learn about the market, legislative systems and regulations in another place, giving them more context into how they should approach interacting with that segment of the market (Invest Northern Ireland, n.d.). By giving people in the same field a space to interact, they facilitate an exchange in information, that results in both parties becoming more informed and competent.
References
Invest Northern Ireland. (n.d.). Networking for staff development: Advantages of international networking. NI Business Info. Web.
Davis, J., Wollf, H.-G., Forret, M. L., & Sullivan, S. E. (2020). Networking via LinkedIn: An examination of usage and career benefits.Journal of Vocational Behavior, 118. Web.
Koksal, I. (2019). The rise of niche and vertical social networks.Forbes. Web.
Kagan, J. (2021). Networking Definition. Investopedia. Web.