Our guide to networking

Reading time: eight minutes

This article has been produced in collaboration with BPP University Law School.

In this comprehensive networking guide, BPP University Law School’s careers manager Stephen Bloomer shares his insights on networking. This guide as everything you need to know about:

• what networking actually is;
• where to network;
• how to expand your network; and
• how to network effectively.

We’ll also share our top tips on creating an impressive LinkedIn profile, so you’re ready to get networking straight away.

For more top career advice from Stephen join one of BPP’s many events, including networking masterclasses. Book an event today.

After reading this guide, you’ll have the skills to:

• grow your network;
• network effectively;
• maximise your opportunities; and
• create an online profile for networking.

Looking for more advice and insights? Try one of our blogs:

• Areas of law practice: choosing your legal specialism
• Law firm application guide
• Pupillage application guide

Plus, read LawCareers.Net’s guide to networking.

What’s networking?

Networking is the process of creating and maintaining relationships between people. These relationships are then used for mutual exchanges of information, services, contacts and opportunities.

Don’t forget, networking should always be:

• authentic: networking is unforced and based on a genuine interest in the other person, which means getting to know someone else – not just their job role or what they can offer you;
   
• mutual: a good network always involves mutual exchanges; that is, you have something to offer, even if it’s just a fresh perspective or connecting others in your network; and
   
• maintained: a network is a long-term investment – by keeping in contact with people you meet, sharing updates and celebrating their successes, you’ll continue to benefit from your network.

What are the benefits of networking?

Networking is key to career growth. Grow your network and you’ll get a range of benefits that’ll boost your professional journey.

Another way to think of it is like a reference when you’re applying for a job. Your application is supported by someone else’s professional reputation, which they leverage to recommend you to an employer. A network acts in much the same way.

Six benefits to motivate your networking

Build your profile: you’ll get noticed by people in practice and have a better chance of opening new opportunities. These could include work experience, new connections or even a job.

Break into the hidden job market: many jobs and placements aren’t advertised and positions are filled quickly by proactive candidates. Knowing the right people will help you to become aware of ‘hidden’ opportunities first.

Build your reputation: cultivating a network will help you to build your professional image. People will notice your experience, skills and qualities, and you’ll gain a reputation for being well connected and approachable.

Strengthen connections: by speaking to new people and maintaining a strong relationship, you’ll gain more knowledge and even further connections to help with your career goals.

Gain confidence: the more you network, the easier it gets and the more comfortable you feel with having professional conversations. This can help with meetings at work and with clients in the future!

Learn new perspectives: connecting with people at various levels will allow you to stay up to date with industry knowledge. You’ll see things from clients’ perspectives and be in a good position to advise them.

Help others: becoming a resource for others will not only help you feel good, but will also increase your reputation and encourage people to return the favour.

Where to network

While there’s no specific place to network, attending networking events can be a great way to get started.

Attend networking events

Events are an opportunity to get out there and meet people. Make the most of these opportunities by introducing yourself to people across ages, roles and career levels, and follow up after the event to maintain the relationship.

Look out for events, such as:

• professional association events;
• conferences;
• job fairs;
• alumni events; and
• training courses.

Before you attend an event, research who’ll be there. This will allow you to plan your approach. For example, if a partner from a law firm you’re interested in is attending, think about questions that’ll give you an insight into their work.

Harness your current network

When building your network, don’t overlook the people you currently interact with. This includes friends, university classmates, tutors and colleagues. You can also reconnect with old contacts, such as people from school or a placement you completed a while ago.

Use your existing contacts to expand your network. Think about who your contacts may know and ask for an introduction.

Develop a network in the workplace

Your job, work experience, internships and placements are an opportunity to meet people and build your reputation as someone worth knowing. As you move through your career, keep in touch with colleagues in previous roles.

If you know someone in a role you’re interested in, don’t be afraid to ask for advice on qualifications or experience that helped them get there.

Virtual networking?

Use technology to connect, maintain your relationships and build your personal brand. LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) are currently the two most popular social media channels for networking. These allow you to create a profile, post your thoughts, follow thought leaders and contact them.

There are also a range of websites where you can register for networking events, including:

• LawCareers.Net;
• Meetup; and
• Eventbrite.

How to create a LinkedIn profile for networking

LinkedIn has become the best place to create and maintain a network online. Here you can reach people across all ranges of age, experience, positions, industries and countries.

Choose your photo

Your photo is the first thing people will notice when coming across your profile. Make sure it’s both professional and approachable. You should come across as friendly, relaxed and professionally motivated.

Write an engaging bio

This is your opportunity to provide a brief bio about your current position, interests and skills. If someone you wanted to network with found your profile, what would you want them to know?

Mention your job or degree and include any area of specific interest you have. You could also talk about any qualifications, achievements or projects you’re proud of.

Track your experience

For each experience you add, describe what this involved. You should reflect on your responsibilities, what you learned and the skills you developed to perform that role. This doesn’t need to be a long description but it’s important to bring out the key points.

Remember to include all the experiences and placements you’ve had, whether they appear directly relevant to your job goals or not.

Get networking with a BPP event.

Showcase your skills

LinkedIn allows you to add skills to your profile. Pick up to 10 skills that you can back up with your work and academic experience. These should be directly relevant to the role you want.

Don’t worry about not being an expert at that skill. As long as you have some experience, make sure to include it.

Read LawCareers.Net’s advice on making the most of LinkedIn as an aspiring lawyer.

Post updates to your feed

Whether you’ve attended an event, passed a qualification or completed a placement, share these experiences with your network and build your personal brand.

Reflect on the experience or opportunity you’ve had. Talk about what you’ve learned and how this has impacted your professional development. If you’ve recently completed a qualification or some training, think about your key takeaways. Share why this opportunity to gain new knowledge or skills has been important to you, and how it’ll change your approach in the future.

How to network

Here are four top tips to get you off to a great start when networking.

1.  Build rapport

If you’re apprehensive about starting a conversation, remember the other person may be feeling nervous too. Start by simply introducing yourself and where you currently work or study.

If you’re looking to continue your conversation, you could ask for their thoughts about something relating to your environment. If you’re at an event, for example, you could ask them what they thought about the speaker or whether they regularly come to events like this.

If you’re looking to reach out to someone online, think about an engaging opener to help the person you’re talking to respond. Find something in common and engage them by comparing your experiences.

Instead of asking questions like ‘what do you do?’, find a more interesting way to ask, such as:

• What do you most enjoy about your current role?
• What are the biggest challenges you’re facing in your role?
• What experience and job roles helped you get where you are now?

?2. Ask for advice

Asking for advice, rather than help in securing a role, will make your connection much more receptive to helping you.

If you have a specific goal in mind, ask for advice on how to get there. You might find that the person knows someone hiring for that position and can recommend you, or they may give you advice that leads to your next role.

3. Keep your relationship mutual

When you’re making a connection, ask if there’s anything you can do for them. They might not have an answer but asking will show your willingness to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.

4. Follow-up afterwards

So, you’ve made a connection. Now what?

Following up with a connection you’ve made is one of the most important networking steps because it shows you have an interest in maintaining a mutual relationship.

After meeting a connection, send them a message to thank them for their time or ask another question based on something you discussed. Make sure your follow-up is personal to them and doesn’t feel like a standard message you’ve pre-prepared.

Final thoughts

It’s never too early to start working on your network. Establish your LinkedIn profile and start attending events where you can meet a variety of potential connections, from peers to employers. Most importantly, once you’ve started to build your network, make sure to maintain it. Check in regularly with people you’ve met and interact with their posts on platforms, such as LinkedIn and X.

Looking for more advice? BPP’s careers service is available from the moment you accept your offer until 18 months after you complete your studies.

Find a course with BPP and secure your dream job.

Stephen Bloomer is the careers manager at BPP University Law School.