Networking + Personality | Part 1 - The Introvert Advantage

Fun fact: I'm highly fascinated by personality traits and psychology. Putting people into personality-based categories is really satisfying for some reason. I often spend my free time taking quizzes to find out What Type of Fruit I am (cherry!) or some other unscientific, but amusing alignment. For example, I'm a proud Ravenclaw, INFJ, Virgo, and Introvert.

You can tell a lot about a person from their Hogwarts House.
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Knowing that I'm a cherry isn't the most useful self description, but personality really does have an effect on career development. Knowing who you are on a psychological level can actually guide you towards the right career path. Believe me when I say that it's better to work with your personality than against it (especially true for American introverts, who are often led to believe that their personality is a weakness).

This two-part post is going to cover how different personality types might approach networking. If you want something more general, check out fellow blogger Nicole's two previous posts on finding a career that fits your personality.

Since my own expertise lies in being an introvert, Part 1 will focus on the relationship between Introversion and networking. For all you lively extroverts out there, hold tight for Part 2 next week, which will focus on the Extrovert Advantage.

INTROVERTS VS EXTROVERTS
Before we begin, it's important to actually explain the difference between introverts and extroverts. There are a lot of different explanations, but I think this one is best: If you're an extrovert, you gain energy by being around people and experiencing the outside world (objects, places, etc.). If you're an introvert, you get your energy from the inner world of thoughts, ideas, and imagination, rather than interactions with people.

On the left, an extrovert, on the right, an introvert.
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A simple test is how you feel after going to a party. If you're an introvert like me, you probably get sick of parties an hour in and want nothing more than to go home and watch Netflix by yourself. If you're an extrovert, you might hate when parties end, and you'd be the type to go to after-parties for extra socializing. Some people are a bit of both (there's a term for that, too - ambivert), but most have a preference.

Below are some tips that will make networking less of a chore for introverts:

Know your limit. If you start losing steam after an hour at a social event, don't force yourself to stay the whole time. Even if you don't get to talk to everyone, making one or two really meaningful connections can make your attendance worthwhile. If you're on the higher end of introversion, like I am, it's also helpful to limit the number of events. I had a week last semester where I went to three networking events in a row, and I felt totally drained afterwards. Quality over quantity.

Utilize the internet. Introverts should capitalize on their natural comfort with written communication. Thanks to the internet, there are a million ways to find people and network without having to meet face-to-face. Sites like LinkedIn are a goldmine of people you can email and set up informational interviews with. You shouldn't totally avoid meeting people in person, but email is a way to break the ice that's often more comfortable for introverts.

Use your listening skills. Introverts may not be the life of the party, but they are known to be great listeners. Letting someone else talk is a really important skill when it comes to networking - it's a two-way exchange after all. Your thoughtfulness might actually make you stand out from the crowd, even if you're not the loudest one in the room.

A problem many introverts don't have.
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In general, American work culture isn't the most friendly towards introverts. The attitude is slowly changing (largely thanks to scholarship on introversion like Susan Cain's best-selling book Quiet), but it's still said that introverts must force themselves to take on extroverted traits in order to be successful. I'd argue that this line of thinking does a disservice to introverts.

A few steps out of your comfort zone are necessary, but you don't have to fundamentally change who you are in order to succeed. This is even true with networking, which is considered the introvert's worst nightmare. Trust me, even the most shy of introverts can find ways to connect with people that don't involve schmoozing at cocktail hour. Bonus: click here for an audio clip of Career Consultant Dan Shepard talking about networking for introverts.

If you're willing to accept your personality and make it work to your advantage, you'll be well on your way to being a networking champ. Minimal small-talk required!

Signing off,

Kelly F. Vieira
Class of 2015