A guide to informality and social networking

by Alvaro Melara

Many students focus on attaining work experience to strengthen their CV and putting them ahead of the competition.

Work experience is a given to any course of study but students need to focus on the practice of informality and social networking. Dr. Vidal Kumar, lecturer in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the BPP Business School offers a guide.

Define what informality and social networking is.

"Whilst there are multiple definitions of the term, essentially networks can be seen as patterns of organising, involving multiple connections.

"Networks can be made up of individuals, teams, organisations, or institutions linked by a relationship. Networks are a vital element to sharing knowledge and learning.

"It is frequently cited that we now live in a 'knowledge economy' - thus knowledge is increasingly viewed as the key asset within the organisation.

"The ability to leverage knowledge to maximum effect, both inside and outside the firm is critical to organisations maintaining and increasing their competitive advantage.

"Networks are seen as fundamental to supporting and encouraging innovation in industry.

"Whilst firms often look to establish formal networks to encourage knowledge sharing and transfer, it is often the informal networks that truly reflect 'the way things are done'.

"Quite simply, networks enable us to become better at generating and executing ideas.

"They enable firms to form strong relationships with employees, end-users, suppliers, competitors, business partners, universities, and Government to name but a few.

"This allows organisations to better understand the needs of its key stakeholders, and to build shared goals and values. As these relationships become more deeply integrated and strengthened, so does the value of the network."

To what extent does informality and social networking help achieve career objectives?

"An integral concept to networks and the informal communities that result is social capital - the goodwill that is built up through social relations that can be harnessed to facilitate action.

"Social capital suggests that individuals and organisations can derive commerical advantage from investments in building networks. Like all other forms of capital, investing in building relationships can lead to future gains."

Are there any inherent weaknesses in these practices?

"The paradox of the network is that whilst it can lead you to form a plethora of new relationships with individuals or institutions from a multitude of sectors and industries, over time as the network solidifies, these existing relationships and structures can work to hold you back.

"As they become more established, networks can become 'locked in' to the values that it looks to promote and support, thereby dismissing or disregarding ideas that are contrary to its values.

"Sometimes you have to purposefully break away from your established and previously successful networks to find truly innovative ideas and new ways of thinking."

Best advice to achieve career goals after university?

"There's no truly universal answer to this question. However, what can be widely applied is the value that can be gained from forming reciprocal relationships - especially with those people or institutions who you ordinarily wouldn't think to connect to.

"Everything can be made to connect in one way or another, the skill is being able to see how things connect and then knowing how to maximise those connections."

 

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Students should take this guide as a different approach to enhancing your strengths. The most important skill that will improve your chances at gaining a job is self promotion.

After university the skills that you promise to bring to any profession are instilled within you but if you don’t make people aware of your skills beyond what you place on paper than you lessen your chances.

Use technology like Facebook, all you have an account and constantly check it on your mobile phones. Use everything at your disposal to promote yourself always but keeping in mind to be appropriate.