Like many professional careers, as an engineer, networking is essential for growth. Yet the word alone can induce instant shudders and conjure nightmarish images of cringe-worthy ice-breaking exercises and cheesy activities. But fear not — networking doesn’t have to be like this! There are many ways to network as an engineer to suit your preference and personality.
As specialists in engineering recruitment at BMR Solutions, we have long been supporting and giving networking advice to both engineers just launching their careers and those with years of experience in the game. We truly believe that networking is a valuable tool for expanding your engineering opportunities, boosting career growth and ultimately building the engineering career of your desires. Some other benefits of networking include:
- The ability to strengthen your business connections
- Raise your professional profile
- Tap into new perspectives, ideas and advice
- Get access to new career opportunities
- Build your confidence
- Develop long-lasting friendships
Sounds great, right? If you’re an engineer wondering where to start when it comes to networking, then look no further. We’ve put together this handy guide featuring some of the best ways to build your engineering network.
Networking tips for engineers
Attend industry events
Heading to events created for the engineering industry is a fantastic way to make new connections whilst broadening your knowledge. When attending engineering events, you have the opportunity to mingle with individuals with different backgrounds in various fields.
These very people can provide you with fresh insight, help educate you on topics outside of your remit, and introduce you to their own contacts which could prove to be extremely valuable at some point in your career.
Need some help finding engineering events? Try out these tips:
- Use networking sites such as Eventbrite and Meetup: Both of these sites enable users to search for both virtual and in-person events. You’ll find a range of both free and paid-for fairs, discussions, conferences, seminars, and networking events.
- Check social media: Be sure to follow engineering organisations and bodies and subscribe to their newsletters if they have one. That way you can be sure to be alerted of any events happening that could take your fancy.
- Take advantage of your Alumni network: Your university can be a great source of events. Your first port of call is the relevant university’s website, but also join Facebook and LinkedIn alumni groups if your university has set these up.
- Friends and colleagues: Sometimes word-of-mouth can be the most powerful form of networking. Simply ask your close network to keep you in the loop of any engineering events they hear of.
While attending these types of industry events can seem daunting to many, just remember that everyone is there with the same motive – to learn new things and meet new people. Who knows what amazing relationships you can accumulate by simply saying yes to a local event?
Keep an active LinkedIn profile
If you haven’t already set up a LinkedIn profile, then it’s definitely time to start. Some of the ways that you should be leveraging this professional networking channel to your advantage are:
To make connections: The very nature of LinkedIn is to establish connections and expand your professional network. Try finding others in your industry with similar interests, within your industry or perhaps those you wish to follow for advice or to easily access and engage with their content.
Looking out for opportunities: LinkedIn is one of the best platforms to find new opportunities in the engineering field. Its designated job search page makes it easy for applicants to find their next dream job, using different filters and tools to search for open engineering positions.
Building your personal brand: LinkedIn is great for making connections and building a business profile, but it can also do wonders for your personal brand. In today’s digital world, building a personal brand on social will you enable you to build a large following of connections that have the potential to create tangible links between you and the industry you operate in.
Joining groups: LinkedIn is also a great way to join engineering-specific groups. Users simply need to use the search bar to find and join groups that take their interest. Electrical Engineers World and Civil/Structural Engineering Network are but two examples of the many out there today. These types of groups provide great content and discussion around certain niches. Can’t find the type of group you’re looking for? Why not start your own
Join virtual events, groups and communities
While you can’t beat the value of meeting with others face-to-face, if you’re more comfortable with online networking then you are certainly not short of options when it comes to engineering.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced many events to become virtual, and as a result, many people now actually favour online events as opposed to making the commute to an in-person one. A quick search of “online engineering events” on Eventbrite will pull up hundreds of options for you to explore.
Likewise, use social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to discover online groups and communities. Try to be as active as you can on these groups, taking the time to introduce yourself, reach out to others, engage with content from members, and spark discussions.
Connect with recruiters
As well as being a great way to stay in tune with the latest engineering vacancies, keeping in contact with recruiters can be extremely beneficial even if you aren’t actively looking for a new job.
For engineers, leaning on specialist engineering recruiters is valuable for accessing advice on what skills are becoming more relevant, industry trends to be aware of, and job market conditions that may impact you. But on top of this, many recruiters either run are very knowledgeable about any industry events, workshops, skill sessions, or networking meetups happening in your area.
Here at BMR solutions, we have new and exciting opportunities within the engineering sector cropping up every day. But not only this, we’re always recommending the best engineering events to our contacts. Explore these opportunities by heading to our Jobs page, registering your CV with us, or simply reaching out to our friendly team.
