Are the days of keeping up with contacts in your business network by meeting up over lunch or a drink numbered?
Not necessarily, according to the results of an OfficeTeam survey released July 23, but things are definitely changing in this area.
The most popular method of keeping up connections with those in your professional networks, say executives, is online. The survey found that almost a third – 30% – of respondents said this is the best way to network. Meeting up over lunch or coffee still remains very popular, however, with 29% choosing this route.
Attending local events specifically meant for business networking were not that popular, with only 11% of executives choosing this option.
The survey also found that just networking in and of itself isn’t enough. Over a quarter of all those surveyed – 27% – said the biggest mistake people make with networking is not keeping in touch regularly with contacts.
“Professionals who treat networking as a one-time deal aren’t getting the most out of this important part of building business relationships,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam.
“Whether you're looking to land a new job or build your visibility, every connection counts and it’s important to foster the professional relationships for the long-term.”
Burning bridges with past employers was also identified as a problem by 21% of executives surveyed.
