Management Course: Discussion Topic 8

Prompt: How does networking increase a person’s power? What networking strategies could you potentially initiate that would enhance your future career success?

 

Support your answer by utilizing research that you have gathered from at least 2 sources other than your text. Finally, be sure to cite your sources in proper APA formatting.

 

 

 

A detailed and thoughtful response to the topic is required (minimum of 500 words). RUBRIC IS ATTACHED BELOW.

 

 

 

 Additionally, emphasis is placed on your ability to conduct and synthesize scholarly research. 

 

 

 

 Your posts should be professional in content and follow the APA standards. Be sure to city your sources in APA formatting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAMPLE RESPONSE:

 

 

 

When networking, a person develops and utilizes business contacts for reasons that go beyond the reason for the original contact (Entrepreneur, n.d.). Today, networking is made simpler through the use of social networks. There are many social networks aimed at networking for careers, such as Linked In and Simple DirectMedia. Through the use of social networks, people can expand their networking area to include other professionals they may not have been able to reach before. Using social networks can give people power and help them get further in their career.

 

 

 

            Social networking creates power through social capital (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 298). This is the knowledge and other resources that are shared among social network members (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 298). Social networks help to create trust, support, sympathy, forgiveness, and other types of goodwill, which enables members to share resources with each other (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 298). Through the use of social networks, individuals can increase their power.

 

 

 

            One power social networks increase is expert power because individuals will learn and have access to more information (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 298). People in these networks have the opportunity to receive more beneficial knowledge than those who are not in the network (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 298). A second beneficial power is increased visibility (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 298). When asked for advice on a good fit for a position, network members will be more likely to think of another individual in the network (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 298). In addition, network members will be more likely to reference your name when identifying people with in your area of skills and knowledge (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 299). Another benefit is referent power (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 299). Network members are more likely to have greater trust in network members and identify more with them giving them referent power (McShane & Von Glinow, 2013, p. 299).

 

 

 

            There are many networking strategies that can help to enhance your future career success. When using social networks to expand your career, it is a good idea to let friends or followers know what type of job and career field you are looking in (Grant, n.d.). This way if a job opportunity opens up, you will get the knowledge first-hand and before it is posted on any job boards (Grant, n.d.).  It is also important to make sure you do not have any posts, pictures, tweets, etc. available for the public to view, on any personal social network sites that you do not want potential bosses, hiring managers, or coworkers to see (Grant, n.d.).  A very important strategy is to find out whom you need to know. If there is a company you want to work for or a position you want, find out more about the people there (Grant, n.d.). Make the connection(s) you need to make at the company, maybe by finding out who does the hiring at the company (Grant, n.d.).  Then gain knowledge that will help you land the job.

 

 

 

            Networking is a great way to further your career. Today, social networks can help expand the range of power networking creates. There are many powers gained through the use of social networking. There are also many social networking strategies that can be used to further your career.

 

 

 

References

 

 

 

Entrepreneur. (n.d.). Networking. Retrieved January 27, 2014, from http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/networking

 

 

 

Grant, A. (n.d.). 10 smart ways to use social media in your job search. Retrieved January 27, 2014, from http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-smart-ways-to-use-social-media-in-your-job-search/8

 

 

 

McShane, S. L., & Von Glinow, M. A. (2013). Organizational behavior (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.