How To Network While Stuck At Home

Whether you’ve been laid off or are working remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak, now more than ever it’s critical to stay connected with colleagues and key business decision-makers. Just because you’re stuck in the house, doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the conversation.

Here are some tips to help you build your network, refine your personal brand and engage in meaningful conversations online so that when the shutdown lifts, you’re ready to go!

Now is the perfect time to refine your personal brand, and an easy way to start that process is by updating your photo, bio and achievements on LinkedIn or any other public-facing website you participate in. Photo tips? Make sure your personal profile photo is no more than 2 years old, the higher the resolution of the photo, the better, and use one where you’re smiling and dressed professionally for your industry.

You’ll also want to check your bio to ensure it covers everything you’re best at in five sentences or less. Put an updated job description under each company you’ve worked for on your resume or LinkedIn and highlight your milestones along with any experience you’re proud of that might not be obvious from the job title.

Video calls are a super helpful way to stay connected with mentors, friends and colleagues when you want to brainstorm and hear ideas face to face, but the amount of video conferences has increased for most people so it’s important to be courteous when scheduling calls. Be deliberate with why a video conference is needed for a specific meeting, be selective with who you invite and be specific about what you’ll cover. Many video conference platforms like Zoom are offering free plans for people to easily continue business as usual, so download your video platform of choice and start getting comfortable with its functionality on both your phone and computer. Common video conference etiquette rules include entering meetings on mute (to prevent echo or loud noises from interrupting the conversation), blurring your background if your home office setup doesn’t have a neutral background and sitting forward rather than slumping on the sofa. Don’t forget to learn how to setup the video conference, share the meeting link and learn how to share your screen to ensure a successful meeting.

One positive that COVID-19 has brought the world is a list of free or highly-discounted online classes and webinars. From Ivy League University classes, to exercise workout videos, to virtual art gallery tours, now is the time to consume all the media you’ve ever wanted while it’s free! It’s also a great time to refine your online interactions and see the power of joining an online community. There are many online groups available on Facebook or LinkedIn for people who share common niche interests. And don’t miss the the listicles, resources, advice and strategies that are updated and shared daily on Twitter, blogs, IG Live videos and more.

Whether you’re a soon-to-be graduate, were recently laid off or you’re hunting for a new opportunity, many people have more flexibility now that they’re working from home and can spare a few extra minutes to connect with you. So, don’t be shy! We encourage you to reach out to 2-3 professionals on LinkedIn per week. Pick people that you’d want to work for, work with or learn from to see if they have 20 minutes or so for an informational interview. 

You can use a free Zoom account or do a traditional phone call, just come prepared by sending over a list of questions you’d like to cover in the initial email. You never know what sort of opportunities can happen from spontaneous interactions like this, so take notes and keep an open mind.

Now’s not the time to be shy. Reconnect with old colleagues by sending them an email, text or LinkedIn message about how crazy this global pandemic is! Ask them what they’re doing to make work life easier at home, or simply touch base to see what they’re working on. People appreciate personable messages and will always make time for others who are genuinely interested in connecting, so don’t be shy—push yourself to connect with an old colleague at least once a week for the next month or so and you’ll quickly see how easy it is to grow your network. And who knows, if you’re searching for a job then they might be the perfect person to give you a lead to your next opportunity.

Another quick and easy recommendation is to reach out to college alumni. Whether it’s a direct connection or friend of a friend, alumni are always a great way to expand your professional network outside the state. They’re also great people to find mentors through. When you already have one thing in common like college, it’s easy to find other topics you share in common as well!

How can you start adding these tips into your new routine? When you think about job opportunities and expanding your network during this global pandemic, just remember that everyone is a newbie at networking during this time. So, try focusing on the small steps that you can take to position yourself in the best way possible online, and don’t forget to utilize all the free online resources that are available to you right now, including this blog!