How to Network Effectively in Alberta

Networking in Alberta: Tips to Expand Your Professional Circle

Networking is essential for any professional to achieve his or her career goals as it is proven a competitive world to work in, especially for Albertans. Networking increases the chances of securing a new job, being informed about the existing job market in the locality and also getting in touch with potential employers who could improve on our present standing. This article provides useful advice and advice given specifically for the Alberta job market to introduce yourself and improve your contacts list.

1. Attend Networking Events

Going for business networking events is one of the surest ways to identify working professionals in your line of business and interact with them. There are many occasions that take place within the year in Alberta to do with the various sectors such as energy and technology, health, and agriculture.

Industry-Specific Events: Search for association gatherings for instance the Calgary Petroleum Club covered at calpeteclub.com or the Edmonton Startup Week at edmontonstartupweek.com
Job Fairs and Career Expos: It is possible to attend job fairs like, Calgary Career Fair or Edmonton Job Fair to meet employers and other candidates.
Chamber of Commerce Events: Professional organizations such as Local Chambers of Commerce in cities like Calgary and Edmonton have calgarychamber.com and edmontonchamber.com respectively have great networking sessions that include workshops and Seminars.

2. Utilize Online Platforms

It’s a fact of the twenty first century that networking must be done online to be effective. Alberta has increasing number of users in professional sites such as LinkedIn in which one could easily establish connection with the desired professionals or companies.

LinkedIn: Make an effective LinkedIn account that will attract potential employers and which presents your lists of achievements, strengths, and desired job position. Use LinkedIn to search for and connect with other professionals in Alberta and in the Calgary area for instance the ‘Alberta Jobs & Careers’ and the ‘Calgary Business Network’.
Facebook Groups: Most local industries and communities in Alberta has page in Facebook where members post jobs, news and networking events among others. Look for guys such as ‘Edmonton Networking’ or ‘Calgary Professionals’.
Alberta Job Boards: Other examples include the WorkInAlberta where members get to post job vacancies and access various employment resources.com and AlbertaJobCentre. It does not only post the vacancies, but very often contains discussion boards and forums where you can communicate with other job seekers and executives.

It will be fruitful to get involved with the professional organization in Alberta as a means of expanding the member’s network and get an opportunity to access other resources and activities.

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE): AW EBUS (awebusiness.com) offer working opportunities to women with networking, workshops, and mentorship.
Alberta Society of Professional Engineers (APEGA): If you’re an engineer or a geoscientist in practice, APEGA (apega.ca) has countless ways for you to connect with fellow professionals via conferences, branch meetings, and even the learning sessions that are held periodically.
Calgary Marketing Association: If you are a marketer, then you should join Calgary Marketing Association (calgarycma.com), events that enable marketers to interact as well as access resources.

4. Volunteer and Give Back

Volunteer work is good to be around people, get experience within the locality and also do something for the community. It also involves an element of meeting and greeting people in a less formal way and this is also an added advantage.

Find Volunteer Opportunities: Profiles such as Volunteer Alberta (Volunteer Alberta – volunteralberta.ab.ca) provide the database of local volunteering openings by different categories. Ensure you target positions that are in line with the field that you are interested in.
Join Community Organizations: Most rotary clubs, or local business associations provide the member with a platform in which they can network with other members who are interested in volunteering their services in the community.
Volunteering also sends the message that you are a responsible citizen who is able to spare time to help in the society hence making friends with like-minded people or those of common interest.

5. Continuing the Conversation and Preserving Connection

It is not just about assembling links but it is also very much about the links which have been assembled. After the interaction with a new contact, one must connect with them as soon as possible preferably through a linked in message or an e-mail.

Personalized Follow-Up: Cherish some words with your daily conversation and use it as a start of reference in following up the conversation.
Regular Check-Ins: Check up on your networks periodically while liking a post or sharing an article or just having a coffee together.
Attend Recurring Events: One must make it a point to attend many events which includes networking so that they can again and again meet the people with whom it is very important to maintain their working relationship.

Conclusion

In Alberta, networking is not only about going to events, using social media, joining associations, volunteering and updating your contacts. Thus, the application of the above-mentioned strategies will enable you to create a professional network that will improve your working experience and promote your employment in Alberta. Networking for them is more than knowledge, but contacts as well as the way in interact with other people.