The best ways to network in the tech industry

30/10/2023

5 top ways to network in tech

The key thing to remember when networking in the tech industry is that it’s about making long-term gains. Developing relationships over time and showing a genuine interest beats generating new connections for your own benefit immediately. It’s also a two-way process, with you being happy to contribute to the careers of the people you’re networking with. Being prepared to share ideas and building mutual trust - letting down your barriers is vital to getting the most out of networking.

The people you’ve connected with on more than a superficial level represent a greater chance of new opportunities. After all, those who share and understand your ideas and ethos are likely to feel much more comfortable putting your name forward to respected individuals within their own network.

So, whether you’re on the lookout for a new job or simply thinking about the future, there's no better time to up your networking game. You don’t need to do it all at once - in fact, rolling out your plan to connect with people in your industry over time is a much better way to build your network organically and authentically.

Here are five easy ways to start networking today:

1. Face-to-face events

The calendar of annual tech events gives you plenty of opportunities to network. Choose a topic that’s relevant to your expertise and genuinely interests you, so you can talk confidently to anyone you meet during the conference, guest lecture or expo.

Once you’re there in person, smile and be open to interaction. Remember that most discussions about the minutiae of a technical subject don’t start with an intense opener, but a comment at the coffee bar or by letting someone know their jacket has fallen off the back of their chair.

Remember to pose questions to the person you’re speaking to and listen to their answers. It’s very easy to launch into a monologue about yourself, your work and your accomplishments, but this is less likely to result in a genuine connection and two-way conversation.

Making the most of face-to-face events means following up afterwards. If you exchanged a business card with someone, drop them an email. If not, then connecting on LinkedIn is another good idea. You can simply reach out and say how nice it was to meet them, or perhaps share an article or piece of research you think might be of interest to them.

2. Professional organisations

Being part of a professional organisation has myriad benefits for networking. Firstly, displaying the fact you’re a member on your profiles can help set you apart from others and encourage fellow affiliates to find you and reach out. Having membership in common is a great opener you can employ yourself too.

There are many professional organisations in the tech industry - from the Royal Academy of Engineers to DevelopHer - there’s bound to be one that suits you. Before joining, be sure to research the organisation’s values, vision and mission to ensure they align with yours.

Some industry bodies run mentoring programmes, which are an effective way to connect with others. If you’re in a senior position and able to share your skills with a junior in tech, that can be very rewarding, but also don’t be afraid to accept help from higher up either, as it can open up many opportunities.

3. Get to know your colleagues in other departments

A lot of tech businesses have staff in different departments keeping themselves to themselves. Not only does this deplete company culture but it prevents cross-discipline cooperation and cuts down chances to network.

Fortunately your colleagues in other departments are not your competitors. They won’t be vying for the same positions as you, but they may go on to work in other companies that have departments like yours that are recruiting. A friendly chat over a coffee could mean your name gets put forward in future, so never ignore such opportunities.

4. Always leave positions on good terms

Just as it’s worth fostering good relations with all your colleagues where you work, it’s important not to leave with any ill feeling. Even if you believe you’ve gone as far as you can with a company, remember that employees move around and may end up on a hiring panel or with some influence elsewhere.

Be aware that everyone else is networking too and getting a reputation for being awkward or unprofessional is unhelpful to your career. People in tech talk and a quiet word on someones attitude will quickly spread no matter how good their technical skills are.

Always leave a role in a professional manner, refraining from any dramatic scenes or theatrics while quitting. Work your notice period and thank everyone as you leave.

5. Use social media

Social media is a great networking tool that can be easily deployed with just a small amount of effort between other tasks. While LinkedIn is undoubtedly the most useful social channel for professionals, don’t overlook any other profiles you have that are viewable to the public. All of these should have a positive and polished feel.

Before making any requests to connect on socials, be sure your profile is interesting and engaging. Post other people’s content as well as your own, comment on industry articles and join groups to demonstrate how well-rounded and connected you are in the industry already.

Networking with people you already know in real life on digital platforms is a good place to start. This will ensure your profile looks legitimate and help you to get comfortable with the medium before reaching out to those in the industry where making a good first impression will feel more critical.

Social media is an effective way to facilitate other types of networking in the tech industry too. For example, it can help you keep up-to-date on the face-to-face events coming up in the diary, as well as following up with people you’ve met or even just connecting with colleagues.