Networking as a guest educator can even lead to a school offering you a full-time position. Although we can’t guarantee that this will happen, we wanted to offer some research-based tips to get you networking within the educational industry. Read more.

<p>
  The term networking originated “around the late 1970s and early 1980s” to grow careers¹. 
  Networking is used to build community, create belonging, and find support. It is a 
  network of people that you can connect with that may support and influence you toward 
  interests and career-related pursuits. In the context of education, networking can 
  potentially turn a day-to-day assignment into a long-term one. Anecdotally, 
  networking as a guest educator can even lead to a school offering you a full-time 
  position. Although we can’t guarantee that this will happen, we wanted to offer 
  some research-based tips to get you networking within the educational industry. 
</p>
<h2> Supporting Others</h2>
<p>Firstly, networking involves supporting others. The word networking often has a 
  selfish, and even manipulative, connotation. However, as an educator, regardless of 
  your current role, your job is to support others. 
  <a href="https://hbr.org/2023/03/a-beginners-guide-to-networking" target="_blank">This Harvard Business Review article</a> 
  describes this networking tip beautifully by stating “if networking feels too 
  transactional for you, consider using it to offer your knowledge, skills, advice,
   or expertise to other people”². Besides, building a reputation founded on helping 
   others in any profession will work wonders for your career. 
</p>

<h2> Rapport Building</h2>
<p>Secondly, rapport building isn’t merely a strategy to be used with your students. 
  While working at school sites, you should try connecting with other staff members and 
  administrators.
This not only helps you to learn more about your coworkers, but research shows that 
rapport building leads to “
<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335861139_The_Effects_of_Engaging_in_Rapport-Building_Behaviors_on_Productivity_and_Discretionary_Effort" target="_blank">higher-levels of productivity</a>”³. 
</p>

<p>For instance, attending professional development events, joining online communities, 
  and reaching out for coaching or mentorships are means to creating and building 
  relationships in a genuine way that will help create meaningful connections with 
  other professionals.
</p>

<h2> Advocating for Yourself</h2>
<p> Thirdly, and this tip is mainly anecdotal, but advocate for yourself. Communicate 
  to schools that you love working at their particular school site. Administrators are 
  continuously working on making their school communities more positive, so they’d 
  love to hear your optimism and compliments. Moreover, schools love to continue to 
  work with people who want to be there. Your positivity will shine in your interactions 
  with other staff and because of this mindset, you’ll be better equipped to support 
  your students. 
</p>

<p>Lastly, in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plWexCID-kA&&ab_channel=LennieAnn" target="_blank">
his inspirational, yet whimsical, commencement speech, best-selling author Neil Gaiman</a> 
said “People keep working…because their work is good, and because 
  they’re easy to get along with, and because they deliver the work on time. And you 
  don’t even need all three”. While we wholeheartedly believe you do need all three 
  to be the best, the truth of the matter is that professional networking is fairly 
  straightforward. The tips listed above can help you on your professional journey 
  but there’s no better way to network than to make a good impression and advocate 
  for your own professional interests. 

</p>

<h3><i> References:</i> </h3>
<ol>
  <li>Networking - encyclopedia - business terms. (2020, February 6). 
    <a href="https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/networking.html" target="_blank">https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/networking.html</a> 
  </li>
  <li> A beginner’s Guide to Networking. Harvard Business Review. (2023, July 27). 
    <a href="https://hbr.org/2023/03/a-beginners-guide-to-networking" target="_blank">https://hbr.org/2023/03/a-beginners-guide-to-networking </a>
  </li>
  <li> Curry, S. M., Gravina, N. E., Sleiman, A. A., & Richard, E. (2019). The effects of engaging in rapport-building behaviors on productivity and discretionary effort. 
    Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 39(3–4), 213–226. 
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2019.1667940" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2019.1667940</a> 
  </li>
  <li> Gaiman, N. (2012, June 10). Neil Gaiman 2012 commencement speech “make good art.” 
    YouTube. 
    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plWexCID-kA&ab_channel=LennieAnn" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plWexCID-kA&ab_channel=LennieAnn</a> 
  </li>
</ol>

Three Simple Tips for Networking in Schools