We have all heard about the importance of networking since we attended our first conference. Our professors remind us to, "Network network, network!" But what exactly is networking, and how do we maintain connections created after the annual conference has come and gone?

According to the Online Merriam-Webster Dictionary, networking is, "The exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business."

In other words, networking allows us to develop and maintain personal connections with a diverse group of people in our niche area who may eventually be advantageous to us, our careers, and our futures. Your social network may include past and present classmates, co-workers, bosses, and friends. It should also include colleagues from professional associations, alumni from your university, or acquaintances you have met via conferences or online networking services. Your network may also include family, neighbors, or anyone else who might have a connection that could potentially lead to a career.

In fact, the old saying, "It's all about who you know," has proven true for most career-seekers, including me, on many occasions. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 48% of job-seekers obtain their jobs through referrals. I can attest that networking has afforded me every job I have ever had, because the best impression you can make on a potential employer is a word-of-mouth referral delivered from those who know you and your skill set well. When you and your areas of expertise are known in your field and by those around you, potential employers often choose you for jobs over those who have not invested in the expansion of their professional social circle. Why? Because they feel like they know you and their colleagues know you.

But how can networking be maintained once we leave the annual conference and get back to the hustle and bustle of academia? Enter online social networking. Online social net-working enables users to remain connected across time and space and it miraculously works with anyone's schedule. Using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Flickr, Tumblr, Delicious, Digg, Skype, Yahoo, etc., we all have the ability to become gurus of sorts in the world of career networking. No longer do you have to be in the same room with a member of your niche community to have a meaningful conversation. Now, those face-to-face connections established at conferences can be solidified online if you use the available online social networking tools to your advantage.

Start with the social networking platform with which you are most comfortable. Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are some of the most popular among academics. Here are a few steps to get you started:

1.      First, research each application, reading tutorials and watching videos to learn how to use it.

2.      Next, create an account in each application if you do not currently have one.

3.      Then, develop a profile by adding a picture and a bit of information about your accomplishments, career goals, and aspirations.

4.      Make sure to set your privacy settings so you can maintain a secure network of friends and colleagues.

5.      Next, you want to find people with common interests and follow or friend them. Make sure to connect with those met at the most recent conferences you have attended.

6.      Always take the incentive to connect with others and never feel inferior, even if someone has more education or experience than you.

7.      Be proud of your accomplishments and realize that the transfer of information is a two-way street.

8.      You may also consider starting a blog and using an RSS feed so that when you post something new it is sent to those interested in your work.

9.      Make it a habit to spend a few minutes each day posting something of interest (this can be set on auto-pilot using RSS feeds) and getting involved in the online conversations.

10.   Try to make every connection useful, fun, and informative. People will not maintain contact with those who only push their own agenda.

11.   Remember this is a two-way interaction, similar to connections created at conferences, so do not forget to interact regularly with others online.

12.   Finally, add your social networks to your signature line/business cards for easy access.

Experiment with the various ways to connect with others online. Use the social-networking tools set up for the major conferences you attend (hashtags, Flickr feeds, URLs, etc.) in order to find new people to connect with online. Once those connections are made, you have the opportunity to participate in discussions and learn from the people you meet - and they from you. This sharing of knowledge is one of the most important elements of networking because professionals in the field share knowledge about their experiences that is priceless.

Participate in online chats, real-time conversations, webinars, and Tweet-ups (real time meetings with other Tweeps or Twitter users).Start and maintain dialog with others on subjects that interest you. Post comments on blogs or other sites (always using your social networks in your signature line). Maintain contact with your network regularly, even if it is just a brief tweet or post to say hi and ask how they are doing. Always remember to help others when the opportunity arises. If someone needs assistance with a task in your area of expertise, offer advice if asked and post something about it on your social networking sites so others learn about your skill set.

Finally, be genuine with your attempts to network in the online arena the same as you are in face-to-face connections and never forget to be grateful. A simple thank you goes a long way with those who help you and appreciation shown is remembered and often rewarded well. Above all, use online networking as another means of legitimately getting to know people in your niche field.  Many positive results will naturally follow.

In order to learn more about how we use social media to remain connected, just stop by any of our social media sites and join us! We have created several places for you to network with the NCFR Student/New Professionals outside of conferences. First, you can follow us on twitter at @NCFR_SNP (http://twitter.com/NCFR_SNP). Being a Twitter account holder yields you the opportunity to have "tweets" sent right to your computer or phone so the information comes directly to you in real time. Similarly, you can jump in the conversation taking place on our new NCFR SNPs Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/NCFRSNP). We look for-ward to connecting with you in cyberspace!