Devon Berry has spent over 20 years in higher education, most recently serving as the executive associate dean at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing. He received his MBA from Western Governors University and has held leadership positions at Wright State University, University of Cincinnati, and Cedarville University. Devon Berry resides in Happy Valley, Oregon with his family.
With years of academic leadership experience, Devon Berry is familiar with networking. Networking is often associated with being performative and transactional, as if the only point of being friendly with another is to get a job lead out of them. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways to get to know other people in your field (or the field you want to be in) without being pushy, calculating, or disingenuous. All in all, networking is simply about making genuine connections with others. Below are two important ways to build a strong career network.
Make Yourself Open
You don’t have to go to a designated networking event in order to meet other professionals in your area of interest. Joining an industry club or even sports league can introduce you to more people. You can also forge relationships with your built-in network at work—if there is a group coffee break or outing, participate. Conferences can also be a good setting to get your face out there and learn industry insights along the way.
Focus on Others
A study by Harvard Business Review found that people who focus on how they can help others instead of how others can help themselves enjoy networking more. Another way to improve your mindset is to adjust expectations—don’t plan to meet someone in order to get a job or connect you to someone they know. Look for those you have something in common with and would genuinely like to know. Then stay in touch, maybe asking them questions that show respect for their expertise and congratulating them on LinkedIn when they hit career milestones—that way when you do ask for a recommendation letter or job help, it won’t seem forced.
Devon Berry 