You might live in a cosmopolitan city, however finding time to network can be an issue for even the most sociable urban girl. Don’t get caught up in a routine which excludes networking… Who you meet on the way up – could be who you need on the way down. Get networking! 

1. Break your stereotypes about networking. If you’re already in the creative arts, you’re probably familiar with the benefits of networking. But perhaps you’ve avoided networking, for whatever reason (there are a number of them!), preferring the easy way out. Let go of that! Stop trying to justify your fears. Instead, try to believe in yourself.

2. Reconsider the idea that networking is insincere, pretentious, or even manipulative. Sometimes, you’re right. Networking can be a superficial way of leveraging a connection in a self-serving and thoughtless way. But there are also people who want to build genuine, mutually beneficial relationships. There are people who are willing to do awe-inspiring things for the simple pleasure of helping someone else out. There are people who enjoy the sense of community that networking brings and who like the idea of empowering each other whenever possible.

3. Reconsider that you’re too shy or self-conscious to network. Ok, so networking requires a degree of boldness. However with the advent of social networking sites, you can get to find others with similar interests and goals without being in a room full of people.

4. Reconsider the myth that networking takes too much time and effort. Unless you’re an extroverted person who thoroughly enjoys schmoozing, networking can be exhausting. Why bother then? Yes, networking takes time and effort, but the time and effort you save by networking can also be tremendous. Imagine how much time and frustration you would save if anything you wanted or needed was just one or two phone calls away. Ultimately, a network is an investment, with benefits that outweigh the costs. Stick with it and watch it grow over the years.

5. Continue networking in order to push yourself. You want to grow as an individual, both personally and professionally. Networking helps you hone essential interpersonal skills that are huge assets in today’s world. It helps keep you on your toes, teaches you to listen, and inspires a humility born of a desire to help others. If you do networking for nothing else, do it for personal growth. Networking can help you become the best version of yourself.

Extracts from www.wikihow.com