By Mallory Edens
As people age, we can tend to become more insular and have fewer human connections. But humans are social creatures; it is in our nature to want to connect with others. Though the age of social media has brought with it new tools for making connections, there’s something to be said for meeting face-to-face. Here, we offer a few tips for rekindling old connections and making new ones.
Reconnect With Old Friends
Reconnecting with your former school friends is the key to beginning your networking journey. Remember, even though you may have changed over a couple of months or years, your connection is easy to restore. Besides, their experiences could complement yours and stir something new that could be beneficial in your future.
However, searching for former high school classmates you lost touch with is easier said than done. This fact hits harder if you moved away after graduation. Fortunately, you can use a search engine to find your fellow graduates from your school. You can type in your school’s name and your graduation year to receive instant results with options to reach out to long-ago friends.
Use Online Platforms
Online platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter are the first go-to options for people looking for long-lost friends, especially after losing their contact information. Maintaining an active profile increases your visibility, making it easy for others to reach you. You can also use the same platforms to look for your long-lost friends. Besides, remaining active on social media and professional platforms is essential to keep up with the events in your area.
Attend Social Gatherings
Emails, phone calls, and texts are excellent ways to communicate, but they are not enough for networking. You need to meet people face-to-face and talk over a drink or lunch. Schedule meet-ups via email, messages, group chats, or calls. However, to reconnect with people out of your call logs, it is best to attend social events for seniors in your region.
Maintain Relationships
After reconnecting with your old friends, the crucial step is to maintain a healthy relationship. You will need to remain in contact, show gratitude, and be attentive to this step. Always fulfill your promises and attend to your delegated tasks to ensure you have an important position in the group. Whether you need to introduce your friend to someone or they need someone’s contact information, do your best to be helpful. These actions will build a foundation for a meaningful long-term relationship.
Networking for Business
By building and maintaining a network of contacts, you can stay connected to the business world, keep up with industry trends, and open up new opportunities for yourself and your family. There are many ways to network, including attending industry events, joining trade associations, or taking advantage of online networking platforms.
When you network, it’s a good idea to have business cards to give people something tangible to remember you by. You can also create a resume detailing your experience and accomplishments. Use resume templates to design an attractive resume. Customize it by adding your own font, photos, and colors.
Networking Key Takeaways
Networking is the basic step of making connections with long-lost friends and helpful individuals. Whether it is via online platforms or face-to-face meetings, you never know when you might cross paths with someone who will change your future.
REAP welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of REAP.
Photo credit: Pexels
Retirement & Estate Advisors & Professionals (REAP) is a professional firm designed to assist families in protecting their assets and maintaining their standard of living. Contact us to find out more! (855) 904-REAP
