I have mentioned networking a lot in my previous blog posts but what exactly is it, why is it so important and how would you approach it in the context of web development. Networking in in its simplest form is building and maintaining professional relationships with people who can help career growth and future opportunities either in-person at events and conferences or online using platforms such as LinkedIn.
Why is it Important
Networking is vital in most industries and especially the web development field as it can open a host of job and learning opportunities. People know people in the same industry and talk so potentially being a part of that discussion when companies are recruiting relies on you being connected and networking.
Job Prospects
This is one of the main goals of networking early on in a web development career (maybe less so as you establish yourself) as many jobs aren’t advertised ‐ the so called “hidden job market” ‐ and are recruited through word of mouth and on recommendation. If you have spoken to the right people at the right time, or connected with them on a platform such as LinkedIn and made an impression then they may reach out to you asking you if you want to apply for a role.
It isn’t just prospects for the “hidden job market”, making connections over time at events such as coding and tech meetups, speaking with companies at conferences and tech fairs and connecting with them on LinkedIn you may get alerted to any job postings that they put up or share from their network.
Knowledge Sharing and Industry Insights
In tech you should never stop learning about new developments, trends and changes in the market as knowing about these could shape future career paths and help keep your role relevant and current. Following (digitally) people in the roles and industries that you aspire to be in and attending events that they speak at is a great way to gain insights into how they achieved what they have achieved and what steps you need to take in order to get to that point in your career.
Mentoring Opportunities
Networking can lead to mentoring opportunities with experienced heads within the web development field sharing their knowledge and offering guidance on career steps and decisions. The Scottish Technology club offer a mentoring scheme mainly for navigating the tech world along with the Barclays Eagle Labs who offer tech related mentoring programmes from experts and leaders of various strands and more broad mentoring support for things like setting up your own business or startup and support for women in tech.
How do You Network
This is the most common and casual form of networking and LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for making online connections. I covered this in a previous post, (link back) but the platform allows you to connect with companies and people in industries you aspire to work in, comment on and re-post articles, share and celebrate personal and other peoples’ achievements. If you really want to work for a specific company connect with them and start the conversation ‐ there may not be a job at that exact time but if you strike a chord and make an impression, then down the line something may come of it.
Join a Professional Body
Joining a body that is related to your field is another way of not only networking and making contacts but also gaining industry insights and finding mentoring opportunities - for example the BCS which is the Chartered Institute for IT, offer a student membership that gives access to a number of benefits that can help with all of these.
Meetups
Having just started attending a JavaScript meetup I can vouch that these are a great way to meet like-minded folk who work in the industry. They normally offer a mix of socialising, learning and industry insights and networking with no minimum requirements for experience on who can attend so are a real safe space for newcomers. This is quoted from the meetup invite for the Tech Meetup Glasgow which is a broad tech related event that isn’t specific to any specific tech field and open to anyone with an interest:
They call it the Pac-Man rule and ensures that newcomers are able to join the conversation.
Of course, it goes without saying that you want to make a good impression and come across professional and well-mannered, listen attentively and don’t interrupt when people are talking and ask questions. Also make up business cards with your details when attending these types of events so you can give them to people you want to connect with ‐ giving them a card shows that you are professional and normally they will give you their card back which will help you connect with them after ‐ be it directly or via LinkedIn The site meetup.com is great for finding these types of events for any field not just tech but if you are looking for more tech specific the Scottish Technology Club website or Discord server are probably the best places.
Conferences and Career Fairs
Career fairs that are held at universities across Scotland are great (free) opportunities to research on who you might want to work for in the future or at least give a better idea of what kinds of jobs exist. You can glean valuable industry insights and trends from experts and find out what kind of career opportunities exist. The same goes for conferences although these can be a bit more specific depending on the type of conference and may require a bit more research before going to ensure its relevant to what you want to do. Again, using business cards is a great way to get your name out there and help make an impression. There are many sites that offer services to make and print these or you could even create a digital business card that is just a QR code that l inks to your details.
How to Get Started
With so much to think about when networking it’s good to step back and work out a strategy before diving in headfirst.
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Research your field and find out who’s who before starting.
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Know the roles you think you might want to apply for by using job search sites and try and find companies you would like to work for then focus in on trying to connect with people who either work at the company or have associations with the company.
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Be seen at industry events and meetups and attend as often as you can.
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Make up professional business cards and keep your LinkedIn profile and portfolio up to date.
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Use existing network contacts as leverage to meet new ones ‐ ask for introductions if you know someone who knows someone ‐ his is how networking thrives.
This LinkedIn contributor thread outlines some handy tips and strategies for a newcomer to an industry and how to get started as does the YouTube link below.
Online networking vs Face-to-Face Networking
The covid-19 pandemic accelerated the rise of online networking and it is great as its accessible to all and offers a far greater reach than face-to-face ever could, making it ideal for maintaining large networks however, in-person interactions remain essential for building trust and meaningful connections which is why it is vital you use a mix of techniques for networking and not just rely solely on virtual connections . A balanced, hybrid approach using both methods is likely to give the best results using digital networking to expand reach while leveraging face-to-face to really express your character and promote your softer skills and make a lasting impression on people.
Conclusion
Networking is a powerful tool that can accelerate career growth, open doors to job opportunities, and nurture professional relationships but it can be daunting at first when trying to break into a new industry. For web developers, it’s essential not only for accessing the "hidden job market" but also for staying current with industry trends and learning from experienced professionals. Whether you're attending meetups, connecting on LinkedIn, or joining a professional body, networking is about building genuine connections. Balancing online and face-to-face networking can maximize your reach and deepen relationships. Start small, be authentic, and let your network grow as a valuable asset that can be called upon as you grow within your profession.