How to Network in English

If you’re studying English abroad, you already have a head start in the professional world because your CV or résumé will have an international appeal. An impressive CV or résumé will help you get ahead, but sometimes it’s equally as important who you know! Networking is the process of meeting and creating relationships with people that you can contact in the future for professional help.

People you’ve networked with can tell you about openings when you’re looking for a job, or even recommend you for a position. If you need a favor or some advice in a field you don’t know very well, someone you’ve networked with who works in that field can help.

Curious how to network in English? Networking can be as simple as knowing a lot of people. In your classes, you will be with students from many different countries. Getting to know them is the perfect way to make connections all over the world!

You can also network with teachers, bosses, coworkers, and other people you meet in the workplace. Talk to people, form a friendly relationship, and soon you’ll have a network that goes all over the globe. The important part is maintaining a relationship.

Luckily for you, the Internet and social media make this much easier. For close friends, you can stay in touch on social media such as Facebook or Twitter, or for a more professional setting, ask for someone’s email address or phone number, or add him or her on LinkedIn.

Some people will carry business cards, which are an easy way of getting all their contact information at once.

After you’ve met someone

Here are some things you might say to someone you’ve met that you’d like to stay in contact with. When in doubt, remain polite, respectful, and not too informal.

Can I have your card?

Here’s my card!

Would you mind if I added you on LinkedIn?

Can I have your contact info?

We should stay in touch!

Contacting someone

Once you’ve gotten to know someone, you’ll have to know how to use that contact when the time comes.

When talking on the phone or writing, start with a friendly greeting and talk a little about where you last met: it would seem rude if you asked a favor right away!

Hi there! How have you been?

What have you been up to?

Once you’ve learned a bit about how they’re doing, get to the point.

I’m looking for a job at the moment, and I was wondering if you knew of any openings in xxxxx.

Do you think you could give me some advice with xxxxx?

Would you mind writing me a letter of recommendation?

Keep these things in mind, and soon you’ll have a huge network to work with! Are there other profession-related expressions you’d like to know how to use? Let us know in the comments!